“The possibility of meeting a while adult here frightened me, more than the possibility of street violence ever had at home.”(33)
Dana is scared of running into a white man because that would meant that she and Rufus would both get in trouble. If they ran into a white adult, it would look like that Rufus is helping one of his slaves escape, so he and Dana would both be punished. It was scary for every black person living in that time because black people didn’t have a lot of rights. A white man can do any to was black person since black people were like animals to them. Dana knew how mean and cruel white adults were in that time. Dana was afraid to get punished because she wouldn’t have an explanation of why she is out in the dark.
“‘He’ll never own a child of mine’”(40) …show more content…
Tom can’t own her kids because she isn’t a slave. Her husband can’t go see her because Mr. Tom wants him to make babies with one of his slaves. Mr. Tom wants his slaves to make babies because would mean that their kids would work for him when they’re older. He wants them to make babies because that would mean that he would be getting slaves for free. Mr. Tom can’t own Alice because she is also a free black because her mom is free.
“‘Her runaway sister. I wonder what you’re worth.’” (41)
The patroller thought that Dana was the runaway sister because he had never seen her before. Dana looked like a runaway to him since she was black and she was wearing clothes that looked like a man. Dana is unable to prove that she was a freewoman because she had no papers. Anything could happen to Dana now, like being sold into slavery and tortured for being a runaway. The Patroller could sell Dana into slavery for him to get money because he had caught her.
“Then he reached over me into the canvas bag and brought out the switchblade.”
Dana is scared of running into a white man because that would meant that she and Rufus would both get in trouble. If they ran into a white adult, it would look like that Rufus is helping one of his slaves escape, so he and Dana would both be punished. It was scary for every black person living in that time because black people didn’t have a lot of rights. A white man can do any to was black person since black people were like animals to them. Dana knew how mean and cruel white adults were in that time. Dana was afraid to get punished because she wouldn’t have an explanation of why she is out in the dark.
“‘He’ll never own a child of mine’”(40) …show more content…
Tom can’t own her kids because she isn’t a slave. Her husband can’t go see her because Mr. Tom wants him to make babies with one of his slaves. Mr. Tom wants his slaves to make babies because would mean that their kids would work for him when they’re older. He wants them to make babies because that would mean that he would be getting slaves for free. Mr. Tom can’t own Alice because she is also a free black because her mom is free.
“‘Her runaway sister. I wonder what you’re worth.’” (41)
The patroller thought that Dana was the runaway sister because he had never seen her before. Dana looked like a runaway to him since she was black and she was wearing clothes that looked like a man. Dana is unable to prove that she was a freewoman because she had no papers. Anything could happen to Dana now, like being sold into slavery and tortured for being a runaway. The Patroller could sell Dana into slavery for him to get money because he had caught her.
“Then he reached over me into the canvas bag and brought out the switchblade.”