Similarities And Effects Of Racism In The Orchard Keeper

The difficulties and effects of racism in the south can be seen throughout The Orchard Keeper in the early 1900’s. Racism in the south was pretty horrific, but many people think that it was only against Black people. In the book, the characters are clearly seen talking about Indians as if they are nothing and then they go on to compare them to white people. “Which’d you rather be, Boog asked John Wesley, white or Indian? I don’t know, the boy said. White I reckon. They always whipped the Indians… That’s so, thats a point I hadn’t studied, said Boog”(McCarthy 140). John and Boog are discriminating against indians and dont feel bad because racism was normal back then. It is sad that someone would make fun of someone that they know nothing about, especially when American Indians are American history.

White people acted as if they were greater than them and Black people really suffered from this. “Whites forever measured the social and economic status of blacks, often mockingly, and their assessment deepened their racism and contempt and, in some cases, pity, for the black minority”(Southern 1). White people were always talking about how they were better than minorities, just like the conversation Johnny and Boog were having about whether they would prefer to be Indian or white. “Boog’s half nigger, said Warn. I ain’t done it, Boog said. You said niggers were as good as whites. I never. What I said was some niggers is good as some whites is what I said”(McCarthy 140). Even Boogs, who was half black, considered only some Blacks to be greater than whites. Everyone should have just been equal and no one should have been compared to