skygiants

Pretty much, yeah! Definitely not NEARLY as racist as Gone With the Wind, and actively trying not to be, but nonetheless falls a little into the same sort of tendencies.

I think the book wants us to both respect David for his virtue and also be a little bit eyerolly about him and the way he is CONSTANTLY OUTRAGED ABOUT EVERYTHING, which I am a little conflicted about because on the one hand yes those kind of people are hard to live with and on the other hand, he ain't wrong, there is a lot to be outraged about! And there is not really another model in the book for ethical progressive behavior -- like, I think it wants us to think Gabriel is an honorable model of manhood, but 'wait and take it slow, don't agitate' is also not a correct response TO SLAVERY.