"Dead" Conflicts

Racial conflicts have been a problem for centuries already. They are still an issue, but this topic reached its peak during the first haf of the XX century, when African Americans were already free but had still not acquired full rights - or barely any, for that matter. It is during this era that Song of Solomon takes place - 1931, to be exact. This novel does not portray African Americans as beings subjugated and completely dependent on whites (like many movies and other novels do), but rather as what it probably was actually like.

The story begins on a Wednesday afternoon at Mercy Hospital... or rather, the "No Mercy Hospital," as the African American community calls it, since it refuses to treat colored patients. This hospital is located at Not Doctor Street (initially Doctor Street), which acquired this nickname because the "only colored doctor in the city had lived and died on that street." (4) This, right off, demonstrates the lack of opportunities for African Americans, since there is barely any medical aid available to them. This idea is later reenforced when Macon Dead explains that he "was worthy...[because], at twenty-five, he was already a colored man of property." (23) This proves that it was hard for an African American adult to acquire property. I am unsure of whether this was due to segregation or because most African Americans could not afford property, but I am swayed towards the belief that it was a mixture of both, the latter caused by the former.

Nevertheless, this lack of wealth is not due to ignorance, as Toni Morrison cleverly shows. At the beginning of the book a (white) nurse - full grown, an adult - tells a little African American boy to go to the Emergency Admissions, and to make herself "clearer" she spells it out: "A-D-M-I-S-I-O-N" She doesn't realize she misspelled it, but the boy definitely does, and is quick to politely inform her.

Not only does this novel exhibit the race conflict, but it also shows a gender one. Macon Dead is incredibly rude to his family. However, the only one who seems to care is his son, who believes that his home's silence is not peaceful because it is "preceded by and would...be terminated by the presence of [his dad]." (10) On the other hand, the three women in the family, Macon Dead's two daughters and his wife, succumb to this patriarchal figure with barely any sign of reluctance. "The way [Macon] mangled [his daughters'] grace, wit, and self-esteem was the single excitement of their days." (11) Even if their days are awfully boring, it is still not customary to look forward to such aggression. Macon's wife "ended [her days] wholly animated by [her husband's contempt]." (11)

It is strange how the women in Macom's family are okay with his verbal violence, but what I find even stranger is their last name: Dead. This has to have a deeper meaning. An author doesn't choose such a peculiar last name for no reason. Yet, I still have to figure out the purpose behind it.