slave on the block

Right away, we are introduced to Michael and Anne, a seemingly upper-middle class married couple living in New York City during what seems to be the 1920‘s. We, the audience, immediately are immersed in their love of black culture. They own a number of records and manuscripts, have met a number of black individuals, and have ventured into the life of Harlem. Ann was an artist, taking great pride in her work. Her favorite muse was that of the “black soul”. She loved to paint them, finding the paint able to make work that other inspirations where dull in comparison. Michael was an artist also, but he didn’t draw or paint like his wife, he was a musician. He was also greatly inspired by the black soul. They both loved black people, and were seemingly proud of it.
“They saw no use in helping a race that was already to charming and naïve and lovely for words.”(p.29)
Even though they saw happy faces, they missed the tear-stained cheeks. They listened to the spirituals and ballards, but they never heard the struggle of black people. They think they understand, but they sit back while those black people they supposedly love are beaten and lynched, burnt and abused. Ann and Michael live a life behind the veil, and even though they take great pride in themselves being liberal-minded and different, the truth is they were no different from everyone else. Their servants became their own personal menstrual shows, forcing their hired-help to pose and sing all day, acting for the white audience. They used language to describe dark-skin Luther as “He is the jungle” and “He is ‘I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray” color of black, they are exercising the supremacy of whiteness under the blinding privilege of the white-gaze. They were nice for a while, feeding Luther and giving him a place to live. But, as the story progresses, Luther begins to outstay his welcome and love turns to hate.
“Anne kept him, although Michael said he was getting a little bored with the same Negro always in