Race

Questions of race and black versus white are littered throughout the stranger. We run into these questions with situations like Mr. Hightower's maid, Joe Brown accusing Christmas of murder and Christmas' self exploration in Freedman Town. Undoubtably, Faulkner is attempting to make a statement here regarding race in Southern Society, however it is difficult to determine what ideas comprise his statement.

Faulkner's ideas about race have led me one way and then another, as if he was tricking me into believing one thing only to pull the rug out from under me at the last second. He designs the small Southern town of Jefferson which consists of a racist public. It shows through Joe Brown's charge of Christmas as the murderer, that the towns perception of race becomes law because as soon as Brown mentions Christmas' mixed background the sheriff releases his thoughts of Brown being guilty and redirects them upon Christmas. This would normally result in the thought that the town is simply wrong and racist and that they have falsely accused Christmas; however, later on, the story shows Christmas' perspective on parts of the story. This section of the book really seems to show Christmas as guilty and is a profound twist plot. If the town is wrong to accuse him, yet he actually committed the crime, what is the correct course of action?

Comments

[Christian R.]

Well if Christmas were to turn out guilty then those that accused him certainly have the right man, but for the wrong reasons. their thought process is along the lines of: He's black, therefore he committed the crime. But, as we all should know, Christmas did not (if he even did) murder becuase of his race, he would have committed the crime for other reasons, reasons that may possibly revolve aroun his racial background. So sure, they may have the right guy for the right crime, but their reasoning behind the accusation is completely wrong.

[Katy E.]

I think the reason Faulkner puts all these twists in here is because he is not actually racist, but is trying to show us a community that is. I have believed from the beginning that Faulkner is not racist just from the tone he sets. I could be wrong but I think that he is just trying to show us how unjust this southern, racist community is.

[Tommy S]

I understand where you're coming from. It seems like the situation with Christmas and him being accused of the murder is justified by his actions. I feel as if a stereotype has just evolved because Christmas is somewhat "living up to" the town's perception of him. I think this is an answer of how racial profiling is in today's life. Accusing someone of stealing for instance, being black the finger is pointed towards the individual but if that individual all of a sudden came up with a lot of money then it may be a justified accusation.