Position:Home>Books & Authors> Of Mice and Men...and...1930s America question?

well it was a white male dominated place and crooks was the only black man in the whole ranch so was discriminated against for his colour and the fact that he was partly disabled also went against him!. thats also why he had a seperate living space from all the other ranch workers!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Black People were treated like outsiders because of the culture at that time!. Up until the 1930's black people did not have equal rights, they could not hold public office, etc!.

When the black rights movements started in the 1930's most people were in opposition!. Many riots broke out and black people were seen as trouble makers and stepping out of their societal place (much like someone from a lower class trying to better themselves in a higher class in other societies)!.

That gives us two reasons why bblackpeople were seen as outsiders in the 1930's!.

1!. They had always been outsiders in the US up to that point in history!.
2!. The civil rights movements and upheaval made black people and their rights a major issue in the 1930's, causing them to become targets!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

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It's a comment Steinbeck was making on the class system!. The reality that he was highlighting is one that continues to this day!. There is the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class!. The lower class will seek to separate and uplift themselves from their place in society!. To this end white men, finding themselves uneducated, desperately poor, or generally disenfranchised, will target minorities and women as biologically or naturally "lower"!. This attitude will be found even with the upper class, and was termed during the 1920's as "Social Darwinism" or the natural success of those who are naturally superior!. Crooks, as you may note is not portrayed as stupid or silly, and has clearly separated himself, making his company and respect something that has to be earned!. In his mind, and to empower him personally, everyone else is an outsider and he is the separate class, above all others!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Most people here have it very close, but they fail to grasp the significance of the issue!.

Number one, there were more WHITE slaves in America than there were blacks! Remember, Europe was not a democracy!. There were millions of poor whites living under the courts and kings of Europe!. The only way most of these people could find their way over to America was to indenture themselves to someone rich!. Blacks were newcomers to a system that had already been well established!.

Point two, slavery carries with it several connotations!. One, all slaves are poor, stupid, and irresponsible!. Even though this might not be true, it nevertheless is assumed!.

Point three!. As for a white slave, he could sometimes work himself into freedom (serve his time so to speak)!. He could then reemerge into society without anyone knowing he had once been a slave!. Blacks on the other hand, with some notable exceptions, were everyone slaves! Therefore, the connotation moved from slaves being poor, stupid, and irresponsible, to blacks being poor, stupid, and irresponsible!. Again, the fact it's not true didn't change the assumption!.

Point four!. A black person might earn his freedom either by escape, or in rare instances by his master's own good will, but he could not do as the white slaves did!. He could not escape his skin color, therefore he could not escape the connotation that went along with slavery!. Namely, that all slaves are poor, stupid, and irresponsible!.

Americans who are racists, are people who still hold these connotations about blacks to be true!. That all blacks are poor, dumb, and irresponsible!. That is, they associate them with slavery!. In the 1930's (especially in the South), this opinion of blacks were held to be factual rather prejudicistic!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

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To begin with, I think Steinbeck is perhaps the most overrated writer in American history!. A lot of historians view the 1930s as the worst decade in American history-and for a very good reason!. Life sucked for everyone back then!.
You also have to remember at the time it is less than a century since the end of slavery and integrating ethnic groups into American Society takes ast least two to three generations!. Even though African -Americans have been here as long as Europeans!. They were nevertheless delegated to the bottom rung of society and viewed as outsiders by everyone else!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Have you ever heard the phrase "separate but equal"!?

Blacks were no longer slaves, but that's about it!. There were rules they had to live by!. Whites tolerated them, but didn't accept them!. Blacks had to eat separately, use separate water fountains and restrooms, and pretty much defer to whites at all times!. Businesses could refuse service to blacks!. There are many photos from the period showing signs in windows "Whites Only"!.

Even in today's society, blacks still have a hard time finding acceptance!. Discrimination still exists, though nowhere near the level it once was!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Was not only black poor whites as well John Steinbeck portrayed this well in his book
At one time every road leading into the state of Calif had armed patrols they would check everyone out moving to Calif if they had no or little money they were turn back as they did not want to have to house and feed them However this lasted a few months and the Fed gov put a stop to it and there were many camps set up to take care of this people outside of Calif
It was not just black people it was everyoneWww@QuestionHome@Com

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In 1930's America, black people were considered lower class to white people, in basic terms it was just racism, whites taught they were better than blacks, and not equal which we are!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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There was still segregation in the 1930's and black people were treated like second class citizens!. They did not have the same rights as white people!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Because the slave days had just been demolished and white people especially in the south were still stand-off-ish!. (hope thats a word) lol!.
hope i helped!.
but hey try wikopedia!.:]Www@QuestionHome@Com

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