EXPLOITATION OF THE BLACK WOMEN IN COLSON WHITEHEAD’S THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
This study aims at the analysis of the novel The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead so as to bring out his treatment of racial abuse, slavery, and exploitation of Black women even by their own men. Both White and Black men inflict sufferings on Black women. Women in general face discrimination in the American Society. In The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead portrays the struggles of the young Black woman named Cora, who has tried to escape the plantation along with another slave Caesar, and they are caught by the slave catcher, Ridgeway. She is subjected to physical and mental torture. Cora gets many lessons from the outside world. Cora faces difficulty in judging people. Some of them are good but many of them want to exploit her. She longs for freedom which she gains only at the end. Colson Whitehead depicts adeptly the history of many runaway slaves and the lurid violence committed against them. He also highlights the forced sterilization of the State to control the population of the Blacks. Persons like Ethel, show to the world that they are helping the Blacks but in their deeds, they are not genuine. They face double marginalization in the American society. Colson Whitehead skillfully reveals it in this novel.
Race, Gender, Exploitation, Cruelty, and Pain