Examples Of Racism In Motime

In the novel Ragtime, by E.L. Doctorow, injustice polarizes society by racism and murder. Racism is defined in the Encyclopedia Britannica’s dictionary as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and those racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. A clear example of this is how the police dealt with Coalhouse’s (an African-American) car. Not only did they make the car dirty and torn, they also defecated on it, too. Now, it is fairly obvious that only reason that the cops damaged Coalhouse’s car like they did is because of his skin color. In the time that this novel takes place; racism is at an all time high and even “America’s finest” had their part in it. It doesn’t stop there though. Another example is Coalhouse’s fiancée, Sarah (who is also African-American), tries to intervene on her fiancée’s behalf by petitioning the government
Doctorow addresses several major societal changes in turn-of-the-century America in his novel Ragtime. He conveys the effects of these changes through the reactions of the characters. Some characters welcome and accept change, while other reject and struggle with it. These differing reactions become one of the ways in which Doctorow develops his characters. For example, Father cannot abide by the changes he faces upon his return from his expedition. Father becomes depressed by his feelings of alienation from his family and from the ways of the new century. He feels helpless in light of the increased self- sufficiency of both his wife and his son. Mother, on the other hand, finds her newfound abilities and freedoms liberating, and thrives in Father's absence. Her duties with the family business and her responsibilities toward Sarah and her child make her realize her potential. At the end of the novel, she has become so separated from the previous societal norms that she marries Tateh at a time when marriage between Christians and Jews had not yet gained