Randall Kenan's Things of This World
Things of this World, by Kenan, is the story of Mr. John Edgar Stokes who must deal with the after effects of slavery in the form of legal persecution. His dog Shep, his oldest and only friend, is killed by the Terrells. When Stokes seeks retribution by shooting one of the Terrell's dogs, he becomes the target of persecution. Many African Americans became the target of such persecution in the early 20th century. The class division between races that formed during the era of slavery continued long after it was legally abolished through social and political constructs such as the Jim Crow laws or the lynchings committed by white supremacist groups.
Why Greensboro?
Mr. Stokes lived in a ficitional town in North Carolina. But Greensboro, North Carolina is the site of the Greensboro Massacre in 1979. In this event, an anti-klan protest was attacked by the Klan. The victims of the tragedy did not receive the full support of the law that they deserved, much like Mr. John Edgar Stokes.
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