Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Marrow of Tradition by Charles W. Chesnutt

6 reviews

marthadude's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Such an underrated masterpiece. Everyone should read this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Violence, Racism, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Child death, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Slavery, Hate crime, Gun violence, War, Racial slurs, and Police brutality

montybonty's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism

amissabellator's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Slavery, Child death, Police brutality, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Gun violence, and Hate crime

Moderate: Infertility, Religious bigotry, Cursing, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Medical content, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape

It is a book about racism post-Civil War, during the Reconstruction Period, and heavily features racially motivated mob violence (such as that perpetuated by the KKK

and Captain McBane was a member of the KKK whose horrific actions are described in the text

) and the incitation of such violence by members of the media. Often to frame Black characters as a "threat" to white society, characters will imply that sexual violence against white women is a motivating cause for white supremacy and this becomes an important detail in one plot (

specifically when Sandy is arrested for the murder of Polly Ochiltree, despite him being innocent

). No sexual assault occurs in the text, however. There is also a plot involving a sick child who must undergo a dangerous surgery to save their life

but the surgery does not occur

. A female character also suffers from infertility and this is said to be because of age and numerous unsaid illnesses (and results in nervous tendencies). This story can be an upsetting read, so go in prepared.

goldendreams's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, and Racism

Moderate: Death, Child death, Classism, and Slavery

thatwhichmeowsalsohisses's review

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I read this for my American Literature class, and to be honest I really liked it. I couldn’t put it down and it was pretty easy to read and understand. It’s refreshing to read a book that’s so old that’s not from a pro-slavery perspective, but don’t be fooled as there is still very offensive and disgusting racial prejudices in the book. I liked a lot how Chesnutt writes and to book is a good mix of both plot and a social commentary of the time. Part of it still applies to race relations we see today. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

rozz's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Child death, and Racism