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Racism Exposed In Octavia E. Butler's Kindred

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In Octavia E. Butler’s novel Kindred, Dana battles an external conflict of time traveling to the past, and experiencing what it was like to be a slave. Dana ultimately resolves this conflict by killing her ancestor named Rufus to return to her present time; however, this choice also illustrates her true character as both scared but brave. Dana’s decision to kill Rufus because she did not want to live in a time where slavery and racism occurred also reveals the universal theme that racism was very common in the past, and it still occurs till this day.
When traveling to the past Dana struggles with an external conflict of racism and slavery. Dana suddenly travels to the past, and as a result, has to deal with harsh and violent environments.“And Weylin is by no …show more content…

"Do your job! Go tell him! That's what you for—to help white folks keep n—s down. That's why he sent you to me. They be calling you mammy in a few years"(114). Dana goes back in time during the slave days where racism was very common, and this piece of evidence shows how rude people of color were treated. Butler draws on that experience to convey the universal theme that racism happened frequently in the past, but it’s still occurring today. Through this novel, Butler speaks to the reader with the message that racism is something that continues, and will keep on continuing for a long time. The words“ job and white” show a negative connotation, and implies that people of color did not have very pleasant lives before. Dana experienced time traveling to the past, which lead to an external conflict of dealing with racism and slavery. Throughout this experience it showed that Dana was scared yet brave. Going through the tough and harsh conditions from the slavery of the past made Dana strong. This connects to the universal theme that racism is something that occurred long ago, and after many years, it still occurs

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