Butler’s (2004) novel ‘Kindred’ and Bell Hooks chapter one article in ‘I ain’t a woman” are two novels that are all focusing on the sexism and the slavery of black women under the hands of the whites. While Hooks (2007) has engaged the theme of slavery and black women sexism directly in the novel, Butler uses characters, Dana and Rufus to express the oppression and slavery towards black women by the whites. The complicated relationship between Rufus and Dana in the novel reveal the historical happenings of slavery and oppression of black women by the whites. The relationship between Dana and Rufus begins with Dana saving Rufu’s life, yet she is mistreated by Rufus’s father. Their relationship grows with instances of Dana helping Rufus in life challenges. It suddenly ends with Dana killing Rufus. Through the relationship between these two characters, Butler has succeeded to portray her thoughts and condemn the then white society that did not give place to the black women.

Alluding to two instances in the novel when Rufus and Dana interacted, the reader appreciates the connection that Butler built between Rufus and Dana. This connection enables the reader to figure out the themes that the author brings out. Two moments when this comes out well are discussed here. The first instance is the 1970s when Dana finds Rufus drunk and nurses him. Despite such treatment, he blames her for his father’s death. The second instance is towards the end of the novel, when Dana travels back to the plantation and finds Alice in great tribulations. In essence, Alice has undergone very a lot of oppression through the novel. Rufus even tries to rape Dana, which also portrays discrimination of women. Connecting this to chapter one of Bell Hook’s “I ain’t a woman’ the commonality of slavery and sexual oppression towards black women are well expressed. In this chapter, Hooks (2007) links seism to racial segregation and shows how sexual racism has been used by the whites to bring down the status of black women in society.

References

Butler, O. (2004). Kindred. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.

Hooks, B. (2007). I ain’t a woman: Black women and feminism. Brooklyn, NY: South End Press.