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Throughout the novel “Of Mice and Men,” Steinbeck uses the character, Crooks to mirror the racial discrimination in the 1930s in America. During this time Black Americans went through a horrible time. Despite Steinbeck’s beliefs, he does not write for or against racism but rather writes about the harsh reality that they had to live through. As a reader we begin to see the impact that it has on Crooks especially after we realize his ‘dream’ could never come true because he has seen too many other people like him with the same dream fail.
During the 1930s for most white Americans, racism was ‘normal’. Blacks were belittled at the time. Steinbeck copies the way the ranch hands spoke giving us insight into the context of the novel. Throughout the novel, Crooks is referred to by a derogatory term and/or slur known as the n-word multiple times. When Candy mentions Crooks for the first time, he says “Ya see the stable buck’s a nig****.” However, Candy quickly says that Crooks is a “Nice fella too.” Candy does not have a problem with Crooks and does not use the word “nigg**” as an offensive slur (as it is seen in the 21st century today). While reading the novel, we learn that Crook’s is not his real name it is rather a nickname he got because of his crooked back. However, Crooks is most often identified by his skin color and job and referred to as the “stable buck” and “nigg**”
In chapter four, we learn more about racial prejudice. Steinbeck gives us an insight into Crooks as a character. “Bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the barn” The way Crooks’ room is described shows us the few rights he has as a black man. Steinbeck writes that his room was separated from the white men which tells us that black people were being treated like animals, Crooks even shares some of his things with animals – there is a “range of medicines, both for himself and the horses”.
Crooks has been greatly affected by discrimination, which is what makes him miserable and angry at the society he is living in. He is ‘trapped’, he has been lonely for so long that he almost can’t deal with someone trying to be nice to him. He has no hope of ever seeing a better life we all realize after Curelys wife and Lennie’s death.
Since the mid-20th century, there has been a big shift in attitudes towards black people. However, in this world today, it is not yet equal. Black people are still treated very poorly. We might think racism is over, but we are blindsided simply by our skin color and where we live. In some areas of the world black people have to work 3 times as hard just to get on the same level as white people, we also don’t have to continuously struggle about bills from a young age and worry about the disadvantages we will face throughout day by doing a simple day to day activities.
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