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Racism in the 1930s history
Racism in the 1930s history
Racism in the 1930s history
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Racism in the 1930s history
Racism in the 1930s history
Racism in the 1930s history
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
There, they encounter many different characters with their own shortcomings, whether mental, physical, or social. Each character and their handicap together represent a specific theme in the novel. Crooks is the African-American man who works in the stables of the farm. He got kicked by a horse many years ago, resulting in his crooked back. While his back is indeed a physical defect that hinders him, but the thing that segregates him from the others is his race.
Crooks (named crooks after being kicked in the back by a horse) is a very controversial character as he is the only black member of the farm and doesn’t actually feature to much in the book. When he is in it though most of what we find out is when Lenny walks into his room. From the start its clear that crooks is a very abused and defensive because he says “You got no right to come in my room” as soon as he notices Lennie stood in his room even though Lennie doesn’t really see any difference between skin colour and doesn’t understand why this is happening. Most of what can be known about Crooks is from the items in his room. His room is actually connected to the barn showing they do not value him as a person but only as a stable buck.
In the book “of Mice and Men”, Crooks works as a stable buck on the ranch. Crooks is an older man as textual evidence states “His lean face was lined with deep wrinkles”,pg.67, paragraph 3. I can surmise he is an angry man because on page 73, paragraph 3 it states ‘A guy sets alone out here at night, maybe reading books or thinkin’ or stuff like that! Crooks is a very lonely man out in the barn. Based on pg.74 paragraph 1 Crooks states ‘’ Your nuts I’ve seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’’ on ranches, with their bindles on their back on that same damn things in there heads.
Of Mice and Men “listen, nigger,” she said. “you know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” (pg.80). This shows how the word “nigger” is used to control a black person. In the book of Mice and Men the word “nigger” is used quite often but towards crooks, since he is the only black person in the book.
He reads a lot. Got books in his room. ’”(Steinbeck 20) This demonstrates that even though Crooks is black he is still smart and does more than sit in his room feeling bad for himself because he is alone. This quote also shows that even though Crooks is black he is still seen as a nice guy.
To begin, Crooks' experience with his racism ruined his dream and drastically changed his actions and how he responds to the blatant racism. Direct Quote #1-The narrator described “Crooks had reduced himself to nothing”(Steinbeck 81). EXPLANATION: The blatant racism shown to crooks made him feel sad and depressed changing his personality. The way Crooks responded to the situation changed the way the other men in the room and the audience saw him.
Crooks John Steinbeck wrote the novel Of Mice and Men of two ranchers, who came across a stable buck that is a Negro. The story of this stable buck is quite disconsolate, he has a crooked back on account of a horse that kicked him, which is how he got his name Crooks. Crooks is isolated from the rest in a separate room, “The boss gives him hell when he’s mad” (Steinbeck 20), and he has to take and deal with these conditions accordingly. However, Crooks is intelligent, lonely, and an expert.
After the civil war, the racial discrimination is still everywhere in America. The America society is extremely unfair. According the conversation between George and Crook, a black who lives by himself because he is the only black man on the ranch, Crook has already abandoned his dream and his equality. Moreover, Crook is painfully realized that his skin color is all that keeps him separate and he also painfully aware he is the outsider. So Crook’s life is very miserable.
The 1920’s was an era filled with new changes and inventions, cultural developments and numerous political conflicts. In January of 1920, the 18th amendment placed a ban on the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol. Organized crime was already present, but the Prohibition Era drastically increased its activity. The closure of all alcohol related companies was the main reason behind increased unemployment ; diligent Americans suddenly were drinking a banned substance. During these tough times, families turned to crime in order to make fast money.
Crooks Crooks has a very unfair position in society. He is the most sympathetic character in the book. Crooks is treated unequally because of his race, and in the story white men are given more privileges. Crooks is very old and has not had the best life. At his work, his boss and many workers do not treat him right.
Anna Witte Adella Parnell Eng. III Pre-Ap February 13, 2023 Gangsters Corrupting the 1920s The nineteen twenties were full of many memorable moments shaped by writers, politicians, and mobsters. Yet, why do people not know about this fact? Consequently, that would be due to the corruption, bribes, and secrecy mobsters used behind the scenes to drive such social movements during those years.
Crooks is a old black guy who takes care of horses. He lives in a small area in the barn it's very dingy and he has few possessions. “...he had books, too; a tattered dictionary and a mauled copy of the California civil code for 1905. There were battered magazines and a few dirty books on a special shelf over his bunk” (pg.67). The majority of the things he has are books, in the era men of color didn't have much literacy which leads the reader to think he wants more for himself.
Crook’s character is being discriminated due to his skin color which soon caused him to be disregarded. Although at a certain point, Crooks stood up but no good has come to him. Challenging discrimination is strenuous, however it is necessary in order for an individual to advance. One of the most lousy assumption made during the novel’s time period is the hierarchy between the color of men.
Another example of Crooks getting discriminated because he is black is when he and Curley’s wife are arguing. She completely shuts him down by saying how she could get anyone to lynch him at any time. Crooks can say nothing but “Yes, ma’am”. Even Curley’s wife, who is considered weak, can pick on even weaker people, like Crooks.
They say I stink. Well I tell you all of you stink to me.” ” (65) Crooks was shunned because his physical appearance and wasn’t treated the same as the rest of the men. This makes Crooks a key character that informs us of the social injustices that where prominent during the time period of the novel.