Cannibalism

As I continue to progress in this book, a clear portrayal of African American society begins to form. Relationships amongst blacks shocked me the most about this representation. Although the common struggle they shared during this period should have united them, a race for survival began where only fellow blacks suffered so that others. All this suffering payed for the wellbeing of people like Milkman and the Dead's who in their advantaged position could leave all the misfortune in oblivion. This chapter shows how Milkman decides he will try to run away from all the suffering he sees in his community tired of that hostile environment.

The first mention of this strife occurs when Macon talks about Dr. Foster saying he "called them (other blacks) cannibals" (71). By definition a cannibal refers to a person who eats the flesh of other human beings (according to the oxford dictionary). Clearly he uses an extended meaning to refer to that desperate strife among black people to acquire a higher status. Despite the difference in wealth, even Macon and his family must have had a "cannibalistic" past. Evidently, they have emerged victorious from this endless battle, secured financial stability and gained a feeling of safety. Although this family has successfully fled the conflict, they continue being part of that society to which they no longer belong because of their higher standing but they cannot escape completely because of their race.

Indeed, "the cards are stacked against" them (87). The game is savage. Ultimately though, even if they win, they loose. Victory like the one obtained by the Dead family, has no meaning because they did not gain full rights but now, they are also in a limbo, not really accepted by their equals. This "game" orchestrated by whites represents the ultimate form of evil Morrison associates constantly with color white. Whites caused the harsh conditions blacks we forced to live in during this time period, the lack of protection by government and even the wealth prize for rising above everybody else. Whites created and maintained the system Morrison fights with her book. With this particular part of it she explains the disunion of black people even when oppressed collectively and points the cause of the problem, hopefully with a solution to come by the end of the book.