Kindred, By Octavia E. Butler

Kindred, a Sci-fi novel, by Octavia E. Butler, is about a young, black woman, named Dana in the 1970s, who time-travels to the past when slavery was prominent. At this time, plantations are embedded in society, and colored people have almost no rights. In her first experience in the past, she ends up saving a young boy drowning in the river. However, as she returns him to his mother, she learns the challenges that people of color face during this era. Dana realizes that she gained an uncontrollable power where she teleports to the past without her will. Her travels are random, making her frightened and nervous when they happen. After multiple experiences in the past, Dana realizes that every time she teleports there, the same boy, named Rufus, is in
One day, when Dana is teleported to the past, her white husband, Kevin, grabs onto her trying to stop this incident. Unfortunately, when Dana arrives, she realizes she took Kevin along with her. She glances around and sees Rufus in anguish. He was extremely injured and needed medical assistance. However, the 1800s didn’t have many hospitals, forcing Dana to bring him to his home, which was on a plantation. When she brings Rufus back, due to her race, she becomes a slave. To Dana’s luck, she is able to persuade Rufus’ father, Tom Weylin, that she is owned by Kevin. Dana must stay close to Kevin so that when she teleports back, he can go back with her. Dana grows a strong relationship with Rufus because they both realize they need each other. Dana always saves Rufus when he is on the brink of death. Rufus can protect Dana from his skin color. As she works on the plantation, she learns how to be a “useful” slave. However, she faces many obstacles. Since Dana is from the future, her skills are abnormal for people of her race. Dana draws suspicions from Tom Weylin, and his wife, Margaret. Eventually, Dana makes a mistake, getting whipped and