People all over the world have so many ways to fight for their rights and freedom. In the book, "Kindred", a black woman named Dana, travels to the 1800s to save a white kid named Rufus that later on became her master. The book shows how slaves were treated, and how they fight for their freedom using violence, peacefully and other kinds of resistance. The author's main message is that people should fight for their freedom and resist oppression.
Dana is an example how slaves did not conform to their society. One reason I belief this is because even though she was a black slave, she got married with a white man, named Kevin. "i am a black women, Rufus. If you have to call me something other than my name, that's It." pg 25. This quote shows that Dana does not let people call her a nigger. Dana knows that she is a black women but that doesn't give to anybody the right to call her a nigger. In their society, black people did not now how to read or write, but Dana knew how to read and write well. Dana also risks her life by teaching other slaves how to read and write. In the 1800s it was illegal to teach a black person to read or write, but Dana still did it. This shows that Dana did not follow their society and help other slaves by educating them so they can fight for their freedom. Dana did not use violence to fight for their freedom but she uses her knowledge. In my opinion I think that Dana is an example to follow because, eve though in that time woman did not have any kinds of power or rights, Dana fought for her right and help others not to conform to their society.
Another person that did not conform to their society in "Kindred" is Keven, a white man. He went against all his society because he married Dana, a black slave. Also Keven instead of owning slaves he helped them to escape. "Were you helping slave to escape?" "Of corse i was! I feed them hid them during the day, and when night came I pointed them towards a free black family who would feed and hide them the next day." pg.193. This quote tells us that even though Keven is a wealthy white men, he risk his life to save slaves and to help them scape. In the 1800s most white man treated black slaves as less than a human, but Kaven did not conform to the society and he help poor slaves to scape. And that the reason I think this person did not conform to his society because he did not care how white people tread slave hi did what he thought it was right.
In the time of slavery, masters treated their slaves horrible; they would beat them to death, rape black women and make them work from sunrise to sundown. Many slaves were tired of the treatment they had and committed desperate actions, like using violence against their masters. An example of a slave using violence to fight for their rights in “Kindred” is Isaac. Rufus, the master, rape her wife. “Did after they got through with him, Nigel told me 'bout it how they cut him, beat him. He’ll have to do same healing fore he can go to Mississippi or any where else.” This quote tells us that Isaac almost kill his master Rufus and he didn’t care because he was so mad of what Rufus have done to his wife. I think his violence was justify because his wife have had hurt really bad. Also I think Isaac had all the right to defend his wife. This shows that Isaac did not care if Rufus was his master he still fought against him.
In conclusion the author of the book “Kindred”, Octavia Butler’s main message is not to conform to your society and resist oppression. “Don’t let life discourage you: Everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was." Richard L Evans. This quote tell us that you most star from the begging and go step by step and never give up in order to reach your dream. So you clearly understand that if you society is being unfair or unjust don't conform and fight for your rights.
