Anguish Over Lost Amity

          Although most modern citizens ignore the issue, racism still stands as a prevalent controversy in the contemporary United States where nearly fifty percent of African Americans identified it as a "very serious problem." Tom Franklin contributes to this concern in his newfangled novel, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter. The novel focuses on the present day as well as the 1970s, a time period with a significantly more traumatic racism problem, especially in the "Deep South" where Franklin set the book. The writer discusses multiple ghastly racial disputes that evoke extreme anguish; however, one instance proved particularly conspicuous to me and induced intense agony. In said conflict, the father of Larry, one of the two salient characters, forces his son to quarrel with his best, and only, friend, Silas.  Larry's father, Carl, drunkenly repeats the command "'fight'" five times before the boys truly began to battle (89-90). His repetition proves the boys' adamant reluctance, but after so many mandates and threats of abuse, the pair has no other option. Their utter disinclination creates pathos and generates extremely disheartening reactions, especially to those who, like me, have a seemingly inseparable friendship. My pain further intensified when Carl revealed his true intentions behind the coerced fight; while contriving the battle, he states, “’fight it out…White to colored,’” (89). Through the alcoholic’s juxtaposition of ‘’white’’ and “’black,’” he quickly heightens the tension by turning it into a racial dispute. The novelist appeals to both youth and elderly readers by including dialogue regarding the eternal issue of racism. After a brief joust, it appears clear that Silas, the African American contender, stands victorious; however, when Larry pleads for Silas to release his grip, “Silas held on,” (90). The author’s use of short syntax illustrates Silas’ unwavering intention to harm Larry and asserts that people can often hurt those close to them when provoked.  I truly felt like crying as I sensed the shift in their relationship as Silas became more vehement during the fight. When Silas further tightens his hold on Larry, the helpless boy stammers out a racial slur, definitively ending not only the fight, but also the duo’s intimate friendship. The novelist had previously depicted the intense bond and necessity of the boys’ companionship, thus I found myself extremely disgruntled at the result. Franklin appeals specifically to those with integral friendships and generates anguish in order to encourage them to not allow outside forces to heavily impact their bonds. I advocate a similar philosophy; however, I acknowledge that it often proves impossible to fully disregard external views, especially in cases similar to Larry and Silas's.