Race

Question 1

Which characters receive racial abuse in OMAM?

Answer 1

-Crooks

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Question 2

Context for racism in the 1930s America

Answer 2

• Racial discrimination was not illegal in 1930s
• whites were seen as superior
• black people paid less than white despite doing harder work
• Crooks -disabled as well as being black, classed him as the lowest in the hierarchical system, resulting in him being paid less than others.

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Question 3

Give evidence which supports how Crooks was suffered from racism

Answer 3

• derogatory name- referring to crooked back
• physically seperated from others on ranch,
• lives in the barn- considered in the vein of animals-has a lack of his own space- he is not a creature deserving of dignity and empathy
• he is lonely and isolated making him resentful and bitter to the other characters when they

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Question 4

Give quotes which support how Crooks was treated racially in OMAM

Answer 4

‘Crooks the negro stable buck’- disability and race defines him- used frequently- shows how its normal vocablury to these men

‘a mauled copy of the Californian civil code’- educated, lonely, never be able to use intelligence, supposed to protect him from racism

• ‘Cause I’m black’
• ‘Nobody ever gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land’- Crooks tries to deflate lennies hopes- this shows how
• ‘Crooks’ face lighted with pleasure at the torture’

Question 5

Analysis of quotes:

‘Crooks the negro stable buck’- disability and race defines him- used frequently- shows how its normal vocablury to these men

• ‘Nobody ever gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land’- Crooks tries to deflate lennies hopes- this shows how
• ‘Crooks’ face lighted with pleasure at the torture’

Answer 5

• disability and race defines him- racial slurs used frequently- shows how its normal vocablury to these men
• he uses the same language to describe himself- showing he understands his place in society

Question 6

‘a mauled copy of the Californian civil code’- educated, lonely, never be able to use intelligence, supposed to protect him from racism

Answer 6

• wouldn’t have grown up with many educational opportunities as a result of race
• lots of books- suggests Crooks’ desire to educate and improve himself
• Californian civil code outlined the new rights for black people proving they were no longer slaves and should be treated equally to white people
• however crooks= treated almost like a slave, faces casual racism
• book may protect him in practise but not in real world
• ‘mauled’- shows he values the book, read it often, clinging to the proof
• educated, lonely, never be able to use intelligence, supposed to protect him from racism