Racism

In Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon racism does not play a major through the first half of the novel for the main character. Race comes up throughout the novel, but never really effects how Milkman views the world. Milkman pays no attention to the racism around him because he lives a much different life compared to the other southside residents. Milkman teeters on the edge between black and white because of the wealth his father has accumulated which allows them to have more and be taken more seriously by white folk. The only time Milkman even hears of racism is from Guitar and the guys down at the barbershop. They all constantly talk about the killings and the way things are and how no politician will ever change any of it. All this political stuff bores Milkman so he pays it little attention. It also rarely has any sort of effect on Milkman he never has any moment where he is faced with racism.


The South is often brought up around him in an effort to get Milkman to understand that not everyone has a life like he does. The first time Milkman truly comes face to face with the issue of racism is when Guitar opens up to him about being in The Seven Days. The group that kills white people to even the numbers every time a black man dies at the hands of a white. This sort of bothers Milkman and he opens up to what he thinks of white people and it's very different from Guitar who believes they are unnatural. Guitar tries to explain that there are no rules no laws that protect black people from white. Milkman takes all this in and still does not really feel that racism overwhelms the world. Milkman sort of brushes racism off and goes back to focusing on his problems that to him are bigger than anything in this world.

Comments

  1. Hanna DuncanSeptember 29, 2018 at 8:51 PM

    I agree Milkman's lifestyle is barricading him from dealing with racism. His wealth and social status shields his eyes from seeing the struggles of the black society. The book has not challenged Milkman to deal with the social divide of whites and blacks, because there are barely any white people present. Instead, Guitar, his best friend, begins to reach out to Milkman, so he can become educated on the social surroundings. Guitar explains the differences between Milkman's stable life and those who live in the south.

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  2. GavinSeptember 30, 2018 at 8:27 AM

    I agree that when he is young, Milkman's lifestyle shields him from the racism that exists in the U.S. in the mid 1900s. A lack of white characters in the book speaks to the little interaction Milkman has with greater society thereby protecting him from the racism of living in inequality. Milkman's affluence also lifts him above many blacks in society who do not share the privilege of money, further separating him from the experiences of his peers. Milkman cannot experience and learn from what he is not effected by, and his isolation from racism as a young man only hinders his growth and understanding of the world around him.

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