The book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck takes place in the nineteen-thirties. This was an era of economic crisis. Previously prominent families were brought to their knees financially. Farmers lost their jobs, families lost their homes, and businesses were closing daily. The richest of rich became the poorest of poor, and the poorest of poor were losing the battle against starvation. The country was in a depression, and everyone was seeking superiority in any way that they could find it.
During this time of great depression, people were treated differently, or even badly, if they were not like others. Wealthy, able bodied, white men were the only favored variety of people who were not put at a disadvantage. Society was exceptionally …show more content…
This bigotry varied between verbal actions like calling African Americans a derogatory term to physical actions as extreme as hanging, commonly referred to as lynching. If blacks did not follow unwritten rules about how the whites felt they were supposed to behave, it could quickly cost them their lives. In the book, Curley’s wife tells Crooks, the stable buck to “keep your place then, nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny’” (Steinbeck 81). This type of cruel threat was commonplace. African Americans often allowed this brutal behavior to affect their self concept, which diminished their self esteem. Blacks were discriminated against so frequently that they began to believe the things that the racists said about them. Crooks and Lennie have a conversation in which Crooks reveals the reason he is not wanted on the farm. Crooks says it is “‘Cause I’m black’” (Steinbeck 68). On the farm, the other workers treat Crooks as if he does not matter, because of his skin color. Crooks is also handicapped which worsens how unfairly others treat him. Crooks mimics what others say about him when he says “‘This is just a nigger talkin’, an’ a busted-back nigger. So it don’t mean nothing, see?’” (Steinbeck 71). Jobs were difficult for anyone to find during the thirties, but even more difficult for blacks. “Blacks faced unemployment of …show more content…
It is crucial that Americans in today’s society recognize and understand the despotic treatment many people had to endure in history. Discrimination as blatant is seen during the nineteen-thirties would not be tolerated today, practically a century later. However, it does still exist in America. African Americans, women, and disabled people today are exceedingly fortunate that they are living in the more diverse society of today. Society has taken great strides in an effort to try to diminish racism, sexism, and disability discrimination. These movements are certainly still in progress but discrimination is getting lessened each day and society is beginning to accept and embrace various and different types
During this time of great depression, people were treated differently, or even badly, if they were not like others. Wealthy, able bodied, white men were the only favored variety of people who were not put at a disadvantage. Society was exceptionally …show more content…
This bigotry varied between verbal actions like calling African Americans a derogatory term to physical actions as extreme as hanging, commonly referred to as lynching. If blacks did not follow unwritten rules about how the whites felt they were supposed to behave, it could quickly cost them their lives. In the book, Curley’s wife tells Crooks, the stable buck to “keep your place then, nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny’” (Steinbeck 81). This type of cruel threat was commonplace. African Americans often allowed this brutal behavior to affect their self concept, which diminished their self esteem. Blacks were discriminated against so frequently that they began to believe the things that the racists said about them. Crooks and Lennie have a conversation in which Crooks reveals the reason he is not wanted on the farm. Crooks says it is “‘Cause I’m black’” (Steinbeck 68). On the farm, the other workers treat Crooks as if he does not matter, because of his skin color. Crooks is also handicapped which worsens how unfairly others treat him. Crooks mimics what others say about him when he says “‘This is just a nigger talkin’, an’ a busted-back nigger. So it don’t mean nothing, see?’” (Steinbeck 71). Jobs were difficult for anyone to find during the thirties, but even more difficult for blacks. “Blacks faced unemployment of …show more content…
It is crucial that Americans in today’s society recognize and understand the despotic treatment many people had to endure in history. Discrimination as blatant is seen during the nineteen-thirties would not be tolerated today, practically a century later. However, it does still exist in America. African Americans, women, and disabled people today are exceedingly fortunate that they are living in the more diverse society of today. Society has taken great strides in an effort to try to diminish racism, sexism, and disability discrimination. These movements are certainly still in progress but discrimination is getting lessened each day and society is beginning to accept and embrace various and different types