Treatment Of African Americans In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

The treatment of African Americans in the 1930s was not far off from cruel, and was possibly one of the darkest times in American history. In the book Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, the setting of the story took place in the late 1930s. In this book, there was an African American man named Crooks. Crooks lived, and worked on the farm the book takes place in. Due to the racial tension in this time, Crooks was unable to enter the bunkhouse that was set aside for the workers of the farm. He was the only African American in the area, and was lonely because of his exclusion. Although African Americans have been given their American rights in the present day, racism still exists. My goal in this paper is to compare the treatment of African Americans then, and how it has changed today.

As previously stated, Crooks was unable to …show more content…
People commonly use these stereotypes in the form of jokes and usually are left alone. Usually, todays racial stereotypes are considered mild and inoffensive if used in the right way. In the 1930s, however, the stereotypes placed on African Americans were much more negative. “a drunken African-American passed out in the middle of the city reflects the apprehension which many rich white New Yorkers felt at the the presence of so many blacks in what they considered to be their city” (Race in the 1930s 1) A drunk African American passed out in an alleyway was a common sight in most cities. People considered African Americans stupid and unintelligent. Currently, there have been many African Americans who have become scientists, politicians, and athletes. These people played a significant part in countering this negative stereotype. Although currently, African Americans are commonly associated with criminal activity. Racial stereotypes have changed since the 1930s when it comes to intelligence and independence, but there are some people who bring a negative touch to these