An Uneven Justice: A Factor of Racism by Thomas Mullen

A THESIS

Submitted by

R.S. JENIPA

Reg.No.20223082102214

To Manonmaniam Sundaranar University

in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of

MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

MALANKARA CATHOLIC

COLLEGE MARIAGIRI-

629153

APRIL - 2024
 Malankara Catholic College, Mariagiri,
Kanyakumari Affiliated to Manonmaniam
Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli-627012

CERTIFICATE

Certified that this Thesis titled An Uneven Justice: A Factor of

Racism is the work of R.S. Jenipa (Reg.No.20223082102214) who has been

carried out in the Department of English, Malankara Catholic College,

Mariagiri affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli

under my Supervision. Certified further that the work reported herein does not

from part of any other thesis or dissertation and has not been in substance as a

whole or in portion for the award of any degree, diploma or any other similar

title.

Signature of the HOD with date Signature of the supervisor with date

Dr. G. R. Sunitha, Dr. Mary Cisin Shemanayaki,

Assistant Professor and Head, Assistant Professor,

Department of English, Department of English,

Malankara Catholic College, Malankara Catholic College,

Mariagiri, Kanyakumari. Mariagiri, Kanyakumari.

Name and Signature of the Examiner with date

 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this project entitled An Uneven Justice: A

Factor of Racism in Thomas Mullen’s Dark Town is submitted to the

Department of English, Malankara Catholic College, Mariagiri, in partial

fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Arts

in English has been originally carried out by me under the Supervision of

Professor Dr. Mary Cisin Shemanayaki. A, Assistant Professor of English

Department, Malankara Catholic College. This work has not been in

substances as a whole or in portion for the award of any degree, diploma or

any other similar title.

Place : Mariagiri

Date : 30-04 -2024 R.S. Jenipa

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The successful outcome of the project owns my deep sense of

gratitude to various people for the invaluable help they rendered first and

foremost. I thank God Almighty for his blessings at every moment to

complete this dissertation successfully.

I would like to record my sincere thanks to my Supervisor Prof.

Dr.Mary Cisin Shemanayaki. A, Assistant Professor of English Department,

Malankara Catholic College, Mariagiri for her constant encouragement,

guidance and suggestions in all spheres of my dissertation.

I owe my sincere gratitude to the Head of the Department Prof.

Dr. G. R. Sunitha, for her guidance and inspiration. I thank all the faculty

members of the Department of English, Malankara Catholic College,

Mariagiri, for their steady and constant inspiration and counselling that

helped me to complete the dissertation on time.

Last but not least, I take this opportunity to be beholden to my parents

and friends for their support and encouragement throughout this endeavor.

R.S. Jenipa
 ABSTRACT

Name : R.S. Jenipa

Course : Master of Arts

Discipline : English

Title : An Uneven Justice: A Factor of Racism in Thomas Mullen's

Dark Town.

The present research “An Uneven Justice, A Factor of Racism”,

focusses the theme of Racism is palpable throughout the novel. The study

focusses on the discrimination faced by the black community. Here, Racism is

explored through a literary lens, delves into the deep-rooted prejudices and

systematic oppression faced by African Americans. The study explores the

dynamics within the Law Enforcement system and the discriminatory

environment to enforce the law. Law Enforcement reinforces and upholds the

existing power structures that marginalize and oppresses the black

community. Moreover, the study explores Humiliation and Death as a catalyst

for introspection. The aim of this study is to analyze how African American

should overcome racial discrimination and law enforcement of colored

officers. The study focusses on the existing racism in the African-American

society and paves way for a change in the society. This study challenges the

readers to provoke reflection and conversation about the ongoing issues of

racial inequality and social justice in the society.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Title Page.No

One Introduction 01-11

Two Racism 12-24

Three Law Enforcement 25-35

Four Humiliation and Death 36-47

Five Summation 48-52

Works Consulted
 1

Chapter One

INTRODUCTION

In literary way, injustice refers to the portrayal of unfairness,

inequality, or oppression within the narrative or themes of a literary work. It is

considered as when a decision is made by a person in power that violates basic

human rights mentally affects someone or a group of people negatively.

Injustice refers to wrongful actions against individuals within the society.

Levy and Sidel provide a good scholarly definition, “Injustice is the denial or

violation of economic, socio-cultural, political, civil, or human rights of

specific populations or groups in the society based on the perception of their

inferiority by those with more power or influence”(6).

Injustices in society can manifest in many different areas of social life,

including in the workplace, the education system, and the criminal justice

system. Injustice includes employment discrimination, educational inequality,

and police brutality. Racial injustice affects the lives of people of color in the

United States, which makes one to understand the meaning of racial injustice.

Their constitutional rights based upon the color of their shin, racial injustice

has occurred.

In the novel, Dark Town by Thomas Mullen provides a compelling

exploration of injustice, racism, and corruption in 1940s Atlanta. Through its

nuanced portrayal of racial discrimination and the challenges faced by

African-American police officers, the novel sheds light on the deep-seated

 2

injustices that permeated society at the time. Injustice depicted in the novel is

racial discrimination. Mullen effectively portrays the daily struggles and

injustice faced by the officers, including limited authority, constant

harassment, and the inability to fully serve and protect their communities.

This Thesis is an attempt to analyze racism with special reference to Mullen’s

Dark Town.

Race is a social construction invented by people. However this novel

effectively highlights the injustice faced by African Americans. Additionally

the novel focuses on the individual acts of heroism and resistance may

overshadow of the broader structural and systematic issues that contribute to

Injustice. John Hope Franklin says ,“The American ideas is the nation’s

holiday garb, its festive dress, its Sunday best .It covers up an everyday

practice of betraying the claims of equality, justice, and democracy”(5). The

term racism is often used synonymously with prejudice, stereotyping,

discrimination, and bigotry.

In Thomas Mullen’s novel Dark Town explores the problems of

Racism in 1940s Atlanta. The incident set in the aftermath of World War II,

the story follows the experience of African American police officers, through

the characters Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith, who are part of the newly

formed police force for black officers. The novel highlights the pervasive

racism and discrimination faced by the black community during the time.
 3

Through the characters, Mullen explores the complexities of

navigating a racist society while trying to uphold justice. One aspect that sets

Mullen apart from other Contemporary writers is his ability to delve into

historical events and explore the complex themes of racism, Power dynamics

and corruption through his writings. The author is known for his compelling

and immersive writing style. He skillfully weaves together multiple storylines

and perspectives creating a complex and layered narrative.

Some Contemporary writers who are often mentioned in the same

breath as Thomas Mullen are, Gayle Forman (1970) is an American young

adult fiction author. Forman in 2009 released the work If I Stay, a book about

a 17 year old girl named Mia who has been involved in a tragic case accent

and lies in coma fully aware of what is going on around her. The novel topped

as the New York Times best sellers list of young adult fiction. Forman won

awards such as British Fantasy Award in 2010 and the ALA/YALSA Quick

Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers in 2010, Goodreads Choice Award

for Young Adult Fiction (2009). Some of his works were If I Stay (2009),

Where She Went (2011), Just One Night (2014) and Leave Me (2016).

Stephenie Meyer (1973) is an American novelist and film producer.

She is best known for writing the popular vampire romance series, Twilight

Saga. Meyer took a break from her expanding narrative to publish the host.

With a similar focus on romantic entanglement between young adults and

paranormal beings the novel presented a world in which extraterrestrials have

 4

implanted their consciousness with human bodies and it extended Meyer’s

commercial success. She then concluded the Twilight Saga with Breaking

Dawn (2008) the publication of which was commemorated by book stores

across the United States with vampire themed parties held before the title went

on sale at midnight. In 2010 Meyer published The Short Second Life of Bree

Tanner, a novella in the Twilight series is about a new born vampire who

appeared in the third of the series, Eclipse.

Meyer made a foray in to the spy genre with The Chemist(2016),

which centers on a female former agent who specializes in interrogations.

Some of his works were Twilight Saga (2011), The Short Second Life of Bree

Tanner (2010) and The Host (2008). Meyer was the bestselling author of 2008

and 2009 in America. She was ranked a number 99 on Time Magazine’s list

of the 100 most influential people in 2008. In the 2008 she won many awards

for her Twilight .

Jay Asher (1975) is an American writer. He has written several books

and middle school humor novels. He published three novels, such as Thirteen

Reasons Why in 2007, What Light (2016), Piper (2017). The Future of Us

(2011), which was co-written by Carolyn Mackler. His work Thirteen Reasons

Why has won several awards and received five stars from the Teen Book

Review. It also had got high praises from fellow authors such as Ellen

Hopkins, Sherman Alexie, Chris Crutcher and Gordon Korman.

 5

John Michael Green (1977) is an American author. Green‘s first novel

Looking For Alaska, published by Dutton Children’s Books in 2005, is a

school story and teen romance inspired by his experience at Indian Springs,

Alabama. The novel was awarded the annual Michael L. Printz Award by the

American Library Association, recognizing the year’s best book written for

teens, based entirely on its literary merit. It also appeared on the ALA’s

annual list, Top 10 best book for young adults.

Thomas Mullen was born on 1974 , he is an Irish Fianna Fail politician

and school teacher. He was born in Roe more, Breaffy, County Mayor, to

primary school teacher parents, Thomas and Mary Mullen Census of Ireland,

1901. He educated at St. Jarlath’s College, Tuam, and University College

Galway. He too became a teacher and taught in Tullamore and North

Brunswick St and at St. Saviour’s Denmark St, in Dublin. Mullen became

active in the Irish Republican Army after the 1916 Easter Rising. He is the

organizer for the escape from Roth Camp in the Courage Camp during the

Irish War of Independence. During the Irish Civil War, he is leader of the Tin

Town No internment camp of 61 prisoners. He is elected to Dial Eireann as a

Trachea Dalai (TD) for the Dublin County constituency at the 1938 General

election. He did not contest the 1943 general election.

Thomas Mullen is the author of seven novels. They are The

Revisionists(2011), The Many Deaths of the firefly Brothers (2010), The Last

Town on Earth(2006), Lightning Men(2017), Midnight Atlanta(2020), Dark

 6

Town(2015) , Blind Spots (2023), including his internationally acclaimed

series set in midcentury Atlanta: Dark Town, an NPR Best Book of the Year,

which was shortlisted for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the Southern

Book Prize, the Indies Choice Book Award, and nominated for two CWA

Dagger Awards; Lightning Men, which is named one of the Top 10 Crime

Novels of the Year by the New York Times Book Review and shortlisted for a

CWA Dagger; and Midnight Atlanta, which shortlisted for the CWA Gold

Dagger. His first novel, The Last Town on Earth, is named Best Debut Novel

of 2006 by USA Today and is awarded the James Fenimore Cooper Prize for

excellence in historical fiction.

His works have also been named to Year’s Best lists by The Chicago

Tribune, USA Today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Irish Times,

Kirkus Reviews, The Onion’s A/V Club, The San Diego Union-Times, Paste

Magazine, and The Cleveland Plain-Dealer, and have been nominated for or

win awards in France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. His stories and

essays have been published in Grantland, Paste, The Huffington Post, Atlanta

Magazine, Crime Reads, LitHub, and The Bitter Southerner. He lives in

Atlanta with his wife and sons. His most recent novel was Blind Spots

published in April 4, 2023.

Thomas Mullen lives a deceptively quiet life not far from downtown

Atlanta. While S.U.V.s drive by and dogs bark and the locals suspect not a

thing, he commits murders, spins wildly convoluted conspiracy theories,

 7

travels through time, reinvents the past, resurrects the dead, falls in love with

women of his own invention, imperils young children, unleashes plagues,

wages war, saves lives, dangles participles, and invents new metaphors. Most

of his sentences contain verbs.

Thomas Mullen lived in several cities before moving to Decatur,

Georgia. Mullen likes how Decatur has a real community of writers and

readers. Mullen was inspired to write Dark town after reading Where

Peachtree Meets Sweet Auburn: A Saga of Race and Family by Gary

Pomerantz. He finished his first draft after Michael Brown is shot parallels

between past and present issues of race and police violence which drove

Mullen to continue Dark town so he can remind readers that nothing that is

happening today is completely without precedent.

Dark town set in 1940s Atlanta. Atlanta experienced tremendous

growth in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The city prospered from new

businesses and new employees. However the city became divided from social,

political and racial tensions. Thus city officials segregated Atlanta into two

districts: ‘Great White Way’ for white Atlanta’s to live separately without

racial mixing. Sweet Auburn allowed African - Americans to “acquire

property and live comfortably in modest to wealthy homes” (5).

Although Sweet Auburn is home to upper class African American

sections of Atlanta still had shanties for poor African- Americans. White

people used derogatory slang names for these impoverished sections: Dark
 8

town and Sherman town. With the city so growing population the Atlanta

Police Department strove for greater efficiency by employing more policemen

and establishing the Central Headquarters Building. The African – American

communities advocated for their own officers.

In 1948, Mayor William B. Hartfield police officers in return for their

votes. However the eight police officers has many restrictions they only

patrolled African – American neighborhood cannot arrest white people and

while they are given guns it was understand that they cannot fire the guns. The

African-American police officers have different headquarters, a basement of

the local colored YMCA. The mayor and police chief want to separate the

African-American officers for their own protection from the white officers.

Their headquarters, known as Butler Street YMCA, is known as the Black

City Hall of Atlanta.

The Atlanta Police Department is forced to hire first black officers,

including war veterans Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith. The newly minted

policemen are meet with deep hostility by their white peers, they aren't

allowed to arrest white suspects, drive squad cars, or set Foot in the police

headquarters. When a black woman who is last seen in a car driven by a white

man turns up dead, Boggs and Smith suspects white cops are behind it.

Their investigation sets them up against a brutal cop Dunlow, who has

long run the neighborhood as his own, and his partner Rakestraw, a young

progressive who may or may not be willing to make allies across color lines.
 9

Among shady moonshiners, duplicitous madams, crooked lawmen, and the

constant restrictions of Jim Crow, Boggs and Smith will risk their new jobs,

and their lives, while navigating a dangerous world - a world on the cusp of

great change. Set in the postwar, pre-civil rights south, and evoking the

socially resonant and morally complex crime novels of Dennis Lehane and

Walter Mosley, Dark town is a vivid, smart, intricately plotted crime saga that

explores the timely issues of race, law enforcement, and the uneven scales of

justice.

Literary criticism allows one to analyze and interpret the portrayal of

injustice in order to gain a deeper understanding of the social, political, and

moral issues. It helps one to question and challenge the status quo, and to

explore the power dynamics and structural inequalities that shape our world.

In Literature, Injustice is an examination through the marginalized voices and

perspectives. Many authors use their works to shed light on the experiences of

oppressed or underrepresented groups, giving voice to those who are often

silenced or overlooked.

The novel Dark Town might also examines the complex relationships

between the black and white officers and how they navigate their roles in a

racially divided society. Overall, this novel may present a provocative and

thought-provoking narrative. This novel delivers a powerful message to the

society about the enduring impact of racism, corruption and injustice. This
 10

novel challenges the readers to examine their own biases and confront the

uncomfortable truths about racism that still persist today.

In this research the first chapter, Introduction has provided an

overview of the novel, delving into its themes as expressed by Mullen and

other contemporary writers. The interconnectedness of their work has been

explored, shedding light on the collective contribution they make to the

understanding of injustice that prevailed in the African American society.

Additionally, a glimpse in to the author’s biography has provided insights into

the inspirations and experiences that have shaped the creation of this novel.

This novel focuses on the individual’s resistance and overshadows systematic

issues of injustice. As readers embark on the journey of analyzing the text as

an uneven scale of justice, they are equipped with a comprehensive

understanding of its context, themes, and the author’s perspective.

The second chapter, Racism focuses on the racial discrimination which

creates dehumanization and marginalization within the black community.

Through the characters in the novel Dark Town, resilience and strength of

African American can be seen evidently in the face of adversity. Mullen

skillfully weaves together a suspenseful narrative that not only keeps readers

engaged but also raises important questions about justice, equality and the

pervasiveness of racism. It highlights the racial barriers that prevented African

American from achieving economic success and upward mobility.

 11

The third chapter, Law Enforcement which is the major theme in the

novel expresses the magnitude of racial injustice and systematic racism.

Through his story telling ability the author exposes the ways in which law

enforcement reinforces and upholds the existing power structures that

marginalize and oppresses black community. Mullen explores the power of

law enforcement as a tool of oppression and existing power dynamics.

The fourth chapter, Humiliation and Death highlights the theme of

crime death. Mullen portrays death as a constant reminder of danger in the

face of racially charged environment. Despite, in this novel death have a

profound emotional and psychological impact on the characters. It offers a

compel narrative that keeps the readers engaged which also prompts them to

reflect on the struggle for racial equality. The final chapter, Summation recaps

the previous chapters and focuses the findings and scope of the research. The

richness and complexity of the novel offer ample opportunities for further

academic exploration.

This research has followed the guidelines outlined in the MLA

Handbook 9th Edition, ensuring accurate citation and formatting.

 12

Chapter Two

Racism

Race is defined as people in various part of the world differ in certain

hereditary features, including the color of their skin, the texture of their hair,

facial features, stature, and the shape of their head. This term describes

populations or groups of people distinguished by different sets of

characteristics and beliefs about common ancestry. The most widely used

human racial categories are based on visible traits and self-identification. The

conceptions of race, as well as specific ways of grouping race, vary by culture

and overtime, and are often controversial for scientific as well as social and

political reasons. Many scientists contended that while the features on which

racial categorizations are made maybe based on genetic factors, the idea of

race itself and actual divisions of person into groups based on selected

hereditary features and social constructs.

According to Horton in his work Sociology, racism historically has

carried one of two related meanings. A belief in inherited race differences that

explain the differences in racial behavior and the support of segregation,

discrimination or unequal treatment of races are often accompanied by strong

prejudices and intense hostilities. It is important to say that the impacts of

racism are not very clear to the minorities but also to the dominant group. In

any case, the economic and social waste consequent upon racism, it has a

harmful effect on the whole community, majority and minority alike.

 13

The problem of racism seemingly remediated through Afro-American

Literature. Afro-Americans are ethnic group of Americans with total ancestry

from racial groups of Africa. African American constitutes the third largest

racial group and then second racial group in the United States. In the Book, An

Insight in to the works of Toni Morrison by Vanita Singh says about Racism

as:

Racism is a man made, man enforced phenomenon may be

defined as all learned behavior and learned emotions on the

part of group of people towards another group whose physical

characteristics are dissimilar to the formal group: behavior and

emotion that compel one group to conceive of and to treat the

other on the basic of its physical characteristics alone, as if it

did not belong to the human race. (Morrison 19)

In Thomas Mullen’s novel The Dark Town explores the problems of

Racism in 1940s Atlanta. The incident set in the aftermath of World War II,

the story follows the experience of African American police officers, Lucius

Boggs and Tommy Smith, who are part of the newly formed police force for

black officers. The novel highlights the pervasive racism and discrimination

faced by the black community during the time.

The police department assigns Boggs and Smith to work in a

segregated precinct known as Dark Town, where they are given limited

resources and authority compared to their white counterparts. They face

 14

constant harassment and obstacles while trying to carry out their duties.

Mullen vividly portrays the racial tensions and violence that permeate Atlanta.

The novel exposes the deep-seated racism within the police department itself,

as many white officers are openly hostile towards Boggs and Smith. They face

resistance and suspicion from both white officers members of the black

community, he is skeptical about the effectiveness of the black police force.

Through the characters of Boggs and Smith, Mullen explores the

complexities of navigating a racist society while trying to uphold justice. The

novel raises important questions about systematic racism, moral integrity, and

the fight for equality. It sheds light on the challenge faced by African

Americans in a time of segregation and serves as a powerful commentary on

the lasting effects of racism in America.

Racism is explored through a literary lens, delving into the deep-

rooted prejudices and systematic oppression faced by African Americans.

Mullen skillfully highlights the pervasive nature of racism through the lens of

two African American police officers, who navigate a hostile and

discriminatory environment while trying to enforce the law. Here, in this

novel the author portrays the high level of Racism in Atlanta. The Black

officers are not even treated as human beings by the stone-hearted whites. It is

evident that when the Colored officers Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith

questions and demanded for License and registration to a White Buick Driver.
 15

The White man replied for their question that the officers do not have the

power to arrest him or question him. On hearing this Lucius Boggs replies,

“I also have the ability to call white officers here, should your arrest be

required. I wouldn’t have thought that necessary for something as minor as a

traffic violation, but if you want to push things up to the ladder with tone, then

I can oblige you”(7).

The White man smiled at him and does not respond for Lucius Boggs

words. This indicates a sense of pride and headstrong of the Whites. The

experience and interactions of colored officers with white police officers and

the community shed light on the deeply ingrained racism in society. Through

their struggles and perseverance, Mullen emphasizes the resilience and

strength of African Americans in the face of adversity.

Moreover, Mullen utilizes dialogue and language to convey racism to

the society. The derogatory terms and racial slurs used by white characters

towards African Americans not only depict the harsh reality of time but also

serve as a commentary on the dehumanization and marginalization faced by

the black community. In this novel, the author introduces the characters,

Dunlow and Rakestraw as sadist white officers who tortures blacks as an

entertainment. They used to mention the colored people as Niggers.

In the journal Phrenologists says that, Blacks in America are seen as a

race inferior to all others. This is not to simply mention that the planning and

implementation of social policy is done in a way that is meant to specifically

 16

advance the whites race due to their intellectual superiority to other based on

Phrenology. By portraying the language of racism, Mullen highlights the

damaging impact of words and the psychological toll it takes in individuals

subjected to such discrimination.

The backdrop of 1940s Atlanta, a time when segregation and Jim

Crow laws are prevalent, creates a palpable atmosphere of tension and

inequality. The colored parents seems to be well aware of the whites and

warned their children that, “He should never speak to them unless they spoke

first, and if he did, he needed to say Sir and Madam and not be rude but to get

away as he could before they did something terrible” (19).

The stark contrast between the affluent white neighborhoods and the

impoverished black neighborhoods serves as a powerful symbol of the racial

divide. Mullen vividly depicts the segregated public spaces, unequal access to

resources, and constant harassment faced by African Americans, showcasing

the systematic racism ingrained in society. The black commodities treat

whites with humble and respect even though they are ill-treated by them. By

utilizing the dialogue of a colored man, “What can I do for you officer?”(21)

the impacts and the power of words are employed.

Furthermore, through the plot and events of this novel, the author

explores the cruelties of racism. The murder of a young black woman and the

subsequent cover-up by white police officers expose the corruption and

prejudice within the law enforcement system. The investigation undertaken by

 17

Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith becomes a catalyst for uncovering the deep-

seated racism and the power dynamics at play. Many Whites kill blacks to

share their domination and because of that they are called by niggers and

racial people. Negro woman say that, “We are born naked and covered in shit

and shall we exit” (51).

Here, the colored people begin to raise their voice against their

suppression and marginalization. As a result, the colored officer Lucius Boggs

filed a report against the white Buick driver. The report is written as, “A

colored girl, teens or may be early twenties found dead, shot in the chest. No

ID or anything” (67). Mullen skillfully weaves together a suspenseful

narrative that not only keeps reader engaged but also raises important

questions about justice, equality, and the pervasiveness of racism.

Hysterical whitepaper has reported about rapes and attack of Negroes,

warning the readers that the darker race is getting more embodiments with

every day that white man does not stand up for themselves. The novel

effectively reflects the racial disparities and unequal access to resources and

opportunities for African Americans. The physical landscape, segregated

facilities, economic disparities, and discrimination within the criminal justice

system all contribute to highlighting the systematic racism and the limited

opportunities available to black individuals during this time.

In this novel, the character Dunlow is portrayed as a brutal cop.

Dunlow beats the stabbed man and he demanded “What you were doing boy,
 18

throwing a bottle at an officer of the law?” (58). Here, the dissertation has a

similar comparison to an incident recently happened in Minneapolis,

Minnesota in 2020. The character Dunlow has a strong connection to the

white police officer who murders an African-American man, George Perry

Floyd Jr.

Dunlow again says that, “If you did throw a bottle at a white officer,

you’d damn well be a dead nigger right now” (58). The black characters in

this novel are predominantly depicted as working-class individuals, struggling

to make ends meet and facing limited job opportunities. In contrast, while

characters are often depicted as business owners, professionals, or individuals

with significant wealth and influence. This portrayal highlights the racial

barriers that prevented African American from achieving economic success

and upward mobility.

Mullen explores the dynamics within the law enforcement system and

the challenges faced by African American police officers. Here, the author

provides a historical context that helps readers understand the magnitude of

the racial oppression faced by African Americans. Mullen incorporates real-

life events and historical references. Boggs says "To work at the house of a

senator, your daughter must have had impeachable manner" (110).

By anchoring the story in a specific time and place, Mullen

contextualizes the experience of the characters and underscores the urgency of

addressing racism. Here, the mentions about the bible verses within the novel.
 19

He starts to read three verses from Bible. "Let us not become weary in doing

well, for at the proper time we will reap if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).

Blessed is the man who preserves

under trail, because when he stood the

test, he will receive the crown of life

that God has promised to those who

love him. (James 1:12)

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell

you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,

and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful,

even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown

of life. (Revelation2:10)

Sufferings and enduring of black people, and the nobleness of feeling.

The pain inflicted by others. In the novel, One Crazy Summer, William Garcia

describes the character Big Ma, she consoles the children not to suffer. She

supports them by her words. She worried because her grand Negro children

have been mistreated.

When we lined up, she'd told the Negro Jackie Kennedy. These

my grand babies. You look out for them, hear. The snappy

Negro lady had been nice enough to smile but hadn't returned

the look that Big Ma expected and Big Ma had expected the

look Negro people silently pass each other. She'd expected

 20

this stranger to say, as if she were a neighbor. They're as good

as my own I'll make sure they don't misbehave or be an

embarrassment to the Negro race. (6)

In the play Measure for Measure Lily heads with crazy ideas like

equality and voting rights she decided to use his degree to help the poor kids

out in the country, that's how he met her. Smith asks about her character, he

replies, “She was com bread pure, man Wide-eyed and innocent like Isabella.

she is a virtuous ad chaste young women” (45). Lucius Boggs, collects all the

facts in his mind, and says that, Prescott helps with the push for Negro cops, a

little. He signals he may be more open to other Negro issues.

His Negro maid is involved in a new, younger Negro rights group.

She may or may not have talk to him about it. She may or may not have spied

on him to report back to her allies. She may or may not have sent a suspicious

amount of money home to her family. She later lists a brothel as brothel as her

returns address. She spots one night by me with a white cops and a bruise on

her face. She is shot and killed with a small caliber gun, possibly that same

night.

In the speech of Martin Luther King, he speaks about the hope of

millions of slaves, who has been seared in the flames of withering in justice. It

comes as a joyous daybreak to end of long night of their captivity. But one

hundred years later, the life of the colored Americans is still sadly crippled by

the manacle of segregation and the chains of discrimination.

 21

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the theme of racism is

highlighted in various interactions between the characters. The story is

narrated through the eyes of the protagonist, Scout, who resides in a fictional

town in Alabama named Maycomb with her father Atticus and brother Jem. In

the novel, various aspects of the vice are depicted, mainly in the conflict

between the whites and the African-American community. Most of the

misunderstandings in the town are caused by stereotypes that are told by

members of opposing races. The narration thus details how prejudices and

injustices along racial lines can impede social harmony.

The discrimination against individuals based on their race is a common

phenomenon in the 1930s. In history, people of color, particularly the blacks,

are not accepted in white society. The white majority exercised supremacy

over the black minority, and the latter is mainly involved in manual labor.

According to Lee et al., the discrimination against the black community

primarily affected the African-Americans because they are the largest ethnic

population in the white society.

To Kill a Mockingbird highlights the practice in a small town of

Maycomb through various characters who exhibit different views on the topic.

Scout’s family, including her father, Atticus, brother Jem, and cousin Francis

are portrayed as being neutral to racism in a community that is highly divided

along racial lines. For instance, Scout’s Cousin Francis depicts Atticus as a

nigger-lover and makes it sound like a terrible abuse. Scout admits that she
 22

does not understand what it mean; however, she does not like how Francis

used it.

Atticus explains that the term means nothing “Nigger-lover is just one

of those terms that don’t mean anything like snot-nose… it’s slipped into

usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term

to label somebody” (113). The term is not only derogatory towards people of

color, but it is also a disparaging term meant to depict the Whites who

supported them.

To Kill a Mockingbird was set in the 1930s, a period that is

characterized by the Great Depression and economic hardships. Maycomb is a

small town occupied by people in the lower social class and from various

ethnicities. The society in which Scout lived was fanatic and selfish, only

favoring their own. Since the whites were the majority, many atrocities are

perpetrated against African Americans. Nonetheless, Atticus’s family does not

consider an individual’s color as a socially divisive element. The family

co-existed with other races, often displaying sympathy and respect for the

oppressed. Atticus even volunteered to offer his legal services in an alleged

rape case against a poor black man, Tom. This decision prompts the anger of

the Maycomb society.

In chapter nine Cecil, Scout’s classmate proclaims that Atticus is

defending a Negro. “Do you Defend niggers, Atticus? I asked him that

evening. Of course I do. Don’t say nigger, Scout. That’s common” (79). This
 23

assertion leads to a fight between Scout and Cecil. Critically, the incident

coincides with several connotations in the book. After slavery is abolished in

the nineteenth century, the colored members of the society are considers to be

equals with their white counterparts, although separate from each other. As a

result, segregation continued through inequality in the facilities offered to

various ethnicities.

In Russia, racial discrimination leads to corruption often follows

women, girls, black people and other facing racial or ethnic discrimination are

all more exposed to corrupt demands because of the exclusion or stigma they

already experienced. Moreover, certain forms of corruption are, in fact,

inherently discrimination because they target specific groups such as

sextortion of women.

In Dark Town, the characters experience segregated facilities firsthand,

with dilapidated and overcrowded schools for black children and limited

opportunities and resources available to African Americans due to

segregation. In this novel, the author brings out the guilty in the mind of a

white officer. This paves way for a change in the African-American society

towards the colored people. Here, racism seems remediated through the

African Society.
 24

Chapter Three

Law Enforcement

Law enforcement is the activity of some members of government who

act in an organized manner to enforce law by discovering, deterring,

rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms that

governs the society. The term encompasses police, courts, and corrections.

These three components may operate independently of each other or

collectively, through the use of record sharing and mutual cooperation.

Modern state legal codes use the term peace officer or law enforcement

officer, to include every person vested by the legislated state with police

power or authority.

Traditionally, anyone sworn or badged, who can arrest any person for

a violation of criminal law, is included under the umbrella term of law

enforcement. Although law enforcement may be most concerned with the

prevention and punishment of crimes, organizations exist to discourage a wide

variety of non-criminal violations of rules and norms, affected through the

imposition of less severe consequences such as probation.

In this novel, the author Mullen highlights the role of law enforcement

in perpetuating racial injustice and systematic racism. By highlighting the

racial injustice and systematic racism embedded within law enforcement,

Mullen encourages readers to reflect on the implications of these issues and

take action to address them.

 25

African people concerned with the law and its manifestations through

affirmative actions, desegregation in schools, civil rights law and

implementation. Beyond these critical and life threatened areas however, it

looms the potentially life ended areas of law enforcement. Law enforcement is

the manifestation of tragic potentiality which is police brutality and as a

tragedy is devastatingly. It is summarized in Aristotle's definition of tragedy

that, "Everyone is wounded, some fatally" (9).

The contrast between the delineated and threatened law areas and the

life ended areas of law enforcement at its most negative extreme is police

brutality that has observed by Tommy Smith. Police have unique and

awesome power in that the government has placed authority at their disposal,

and has delegated to them not only the right but also the responsibility to

exercise authority to a degree that no other individual, official, or organization

legally enjoys.

This novel portrays a racially segregated society in 1940s Atlanta.

Mullen's portrayal prompts readers to question the notion of law enforcement

as a neutral and unbiased institution. Through his storytelling ability the

author exposes the ways in which law enforcement reinforces and upholds the

existing power structures that marginalize and oppresses the black

community. Here, Mullen emphasizes the stark contrast between the

treatments of black and white citizens by the police.

 26

One of the important aspects of Mullen's novel Dark Town showcases

the unequal application of the law, where the black individuals where facing

harsher treatment and more frequent encounters with law enforcement. This

disparity exposes the deep-rooted racial biases within the criminal justice

system and the role of law enforcement perpetuates within them.

In this novel Dark Town, White American people establish certain

rules and regulations for Negro people, but their job is to enforce peace and

arrest those who observes that has broken law. They cannot conduct any

investigation. No protection from pickpocket, thieves and burglar’s scofflaws

and roughnecks moonshiner, drunk and rapist. They denies the rights of the

black people. In the novel, Now Is the Time to Open Your Heart, Alice Walker

introduces the character Kate, who portrays her autobiographical elements. In

white community, they denied the rights of blacks. Kate also does not have

any right to vote because of their denied rights that they find against the white

society. Grandmother Yolo taught her, “We are all on the black of giant

anaconda. It is slithering and sliding darting and diving, like anaconda do.

That is the reality of the world; she woke up remembering a story from her

days in the black freedom” (6).

Raymond describes that "Law aren’t never concerned itself with us

before, less 'n they went to jail one of us for something somebody else done"

(35). Boggs replies, now the law is so different. Negroes has the right to be

on this porch because they heard gunshots anywhere looking at a man with a
 27

busted forehead, Smith reveals that everyone needs their own rights to do their

business, so stay calm and help the poor people. Negro police man never beats

the people unnecessary. But people who disobey the law, they has sentenced

to jail.

Here the author also sheds light on the challenges faced by the African

American police officers themselves. Despite being sworn to protect and

serve, they are often subjected to harassment, restricted authority, and blatant

racism from their white colleagues. The author explores the internal struggles

and conflicts experienced by these officers as they navigate their duty to

uphold the law while also facing discrimination within their own ranks.

Dunglow and Rake compares their law to blacks law. Black people are

named as Burglars. When they are in search of Triple James Dunglow says to

Rake that, "Don't ever overestimate the intelligence of our partners in law

enforcement" (22). Law prohibits uniform of Negros police officers inside the

court. Black people are not permitted inside the court. Law has given dark

colour uniform to the people. They are mentioned as black people.

Negro officers had not yet been entrusted with squad cars, they does

not has any perfect uniforms, “Black caps with the gold city crest, dark blue

shirts on which their shiny badges were pinned, black slacks, and black ties.

Their thick belts were weighed down by a heavy arsenal of weapons and gear,

including firearms, which terrified a number of white people in Atlanta and

beyond” (4).
 28

The first time Negro officers has needed in a courtroom but the judge

has refused to let them enter in uniform, demands that they enter as typical

Negros. Negro people complains to 'Y' city officer McInnis Judge vouched

their complaint that they win a concession, they can now wear the uniform at

trial. But they cannot wear on the way to or from the courthouse, just as they

are not allowed to wear them to or from the ‘Y’ city. The latest policy stated

that they could carry their uniforms in garment bags to the courthouse, which

they will enter via the coloured entrance. Then, in an old custodial closer next

to the coloured restroom, they could change in to their uniforms.

Furthermore, Mullen exposes the corrupt practices and complicity of

some white police officers in protecting the interests of the white community

at the expense of the black population. This highlights the ways in which law

enforcement becomes a tool of oppression, reinforcing the existing power

dynamics. The author reveals how racial biases and discriminatory practices

can shape the actions and decisions of law enforcement officers. This prompts

readers to critically examine the ways in which these biases may be present in

their own perceptions of law enforcement and to challenge any implicit biases

they may hold.

The Black Officers gives the keys to the closet, though it is no longer

in use, maintained the smell of mildewed mops and disinfectant. It smells

better than coloured restrooms. So many of their interactions are fraught,

perplexes, and dangerous. There is no precedent to follow it is mentioned as

 29

"No Jim Crow Guide to Coloured policing" (62). Each of them has survived in

adulthood by proceeding warily, yet now they are expected to walk with a

heavy step and newfound power through their neighborhoods. In every other

part of the city, they are still expected to vanish, or worse.

Jim Crow is the name of the racial caste system which operated

primarily, but not exclusively in southern and Border States, between 1877

and the mid-1960s. Jim Crow is more than a series of rigid anti-black laws. It

is a way of life. Under Jim Crow, African Americans are relegated to the

status of second class citizens. Jim Crow represents the legitimization of anti-

black racism. Many Christian ministers and theologians teach that whites are

the chosen people, blacks are cursed to be servants, and God supported racial

segregation. Craniologists, eugenicists, phrenologists, and Social Darwinists,

at every educational level, buttressed the belief that blacks are innately,

intellectually and culturally inferior to whites. Pro-segregation politicians give

eloquent speeches on the great danger of integration, the mongrelization of the

white race. Newspaper and magazine writers routinely refers blacks as

niggers, darkies and worse, their articles reinforced anti-black stereotypes.

Coons, an even children games portrayed blacks as inferior beings. All major

societal institutions reflects and supports the oppression of blacks.

In 1890, Louisiana passed the Separate Car Law, which surported to

aid passenger comfort which creates equal but separate cars for blacks and

whites. This is a ruse. No public accommodations, includes railway travel,

 30

provided blacks with equal facilities. The Louisiana law makes it illegal for

blacks to sit in coach seats which reserves for whites, and whites cannot sit in

seats reserved for blacks. In 1891, a group of blacks decides to test the Jim

Crow law. They have Homer A. Plessy, who is seven-eighths white and one-

eighth black, sit in the white-only railroad coach. He has arrested. Plessy's

lawyer argued that Louisiana does not has the right to label one’s citizen as

white and another black for the purpose of restrict their rights and privileges.

In Plessy, the Supreme Court states that so long as state governments

provides legal process and legal freedoms for blacks, equal to those of whites,

they can maintain separate institutions to facilitate these rights. The Court, by

a 7-2 vote, upheld the Louisiana law, declares that, racial separation does not

necessarily mean an abrogation of equality. In practice, Plessy represents the

legitimization of two societies by which one white, and advantaged and the

other, black, disadvantaged and despised.

Blacks denies the right to vote by grandfather clauses laws that

restricts the right to vote to people whose ancestors have voted before the

Civil War, poll taxes fees charged to poor blacks, white primaries, only

Democrats can vote, only whites can be Democrats, and literacy tests that

name all the Vice Presidents and Supreme Court Justices throughout

America's history. Plessy sent this message to southern and border states.

Discrimination against blacks is acceptable.

 31

Jim Crow states, pass status severely regulate social interactions

between the races. Jim Crow sign has placed above water fountains, door

entrances and exits, and in front of public facilities. There separate hospitals

for blacks and whites, separate prisons, separate public and private schools,

separate churches, separate cemeteries, separate public restrooms, and

separate public accommodations. In most instances, the black facilities grossly

inferior generally, older and less well kept. In other cases, there are no black

facilities, no Colored public restroom, no public beach, no place to sit or eat

Plessy gives Jim Crow states a legal way to ignore their constitutional

obligations to their black citizens.

Boggs and Smith are strict followers of law. Rake advised his brother

Dale to follow the rules and regulation of laws. Triple James is arrested for the

savage, near fatal assault of a sixteen year old white boy. All white people by

law is not troubled by things like evidence or fairness, that deliberates a mere

ten minutes. A white boy has beaten outside the club in a colored part of a

town, but that boy is not beaten by Jamie’s. Jameson lives near the club.

Without any investigation, law charged James and two another Negro

teenagers. All three has given a week in a jail, because they are black boys

with records. They difficult their lives for white juniors to connect.

Rake speaks to Calvin about selling and buying the house of Negroes

people. Rake warms that they can always sell and buys a house more

appropriately located. Calvin too tired to make this argument, too anxious to
 32

end the conversation, because he follows white laws. Calvin replies, "I am not

breaking any laws by being here"(117). People throw bricks in which one

breaks the laws. Calvin is free to say anything to Rake, because he is a white

man. Calvin refuses to speak with Rake, because he supports black people.

Boggs and Smith arrest two of Negros men for one to pull the wagon

to the curb. The wagon does not turn off its engine, and the driver does not

open his door. In the back of the wagon there is a white women, long dark

hair, late thirties, drank by the look of her dizzy eyes and unfortunate hair. She

glance at Smith and then back out the other window. The law, Smith nodded

his head and says, “Arrested black men could not be put in the same wagon as

arrested white women” (129).

Rake wants to know about Lily Ellsworth murder. Eventually some

Negros arrested for some other murder confesses to hers as well, and presto,

the crime will be solved. No one ever knows, or care, who kill Lily. Rake does

not think a girl of colour be killed, dropped in an alley, and forgets. He takes

the responsibility to enforce the law seriously, even if others doesn’t. Now it

is motivated solely by pure intentions. Rake has never asked to be assigned to

a corrupt cop, and he has hoped that he can eventually reassign. But waits

around for a transfer that felt like a luxury he can no longer afford.

Zo is tall and has a couple of inches on Smith. He finds the right kind

of stupid people to cheat money from. Smith warns him, but he never obeys

the instruction of law. One night, Zo and Smith meet each other in a party.
 33

Smith places his gun in the forehead of Zo. Zo’s forehead looks even sweatier

than Smiths, “See, there are special rules governing ho officers of the la must

behave, even when we are not on the clock. Funny thing is, my fellow Officer

Bayle has never had a drink in his life. He is a very religious man. It happens

that one night he is reported to have been out drinking” (148).

The New Testament book of Hebrews is a gold mine of comparison of

the old life under the law and the new life that live by God's grace. Here some

verses from chapter (10-18),

Under the old covenant, the priest stands before the altar day after day,

offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. But our High Priest

offered himself to God as one sacrifice for sins, good for all time. This

is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the

Lord. I will put my lay laws in their hearts so they will understand

them, and I will write them on their minds so they will obey them

Then he adds, 'I will never again remember their sins and lawless

deed. (New Living Translation)

Rake picks up the report, the report notes that no shell casings has

been found, which argues for a professional killer, or at least an unusually

thorough one Rake has run to the scene of the murder in less than a minute,

yet the shooter has still cleaned his mess fast enough to vanish. Dung low

says, it is indeed a difficult time to be a former officer of the law. Rake

replies, "I'd hate to become one myself" (229). As God's new creation one
 34

actually wants to obey his law, not because it gets us anything, but for him.

One still says that the Psalmist in his ageless words, "I desire to do your will,

O my God; your law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8).

Smith advises Boggs that, One of them tells anything until the other

has cleared it first. Boggs and Smith equally vary from each other, they both

pledge, "Let's not trust him any more than another white man" (246). It is

fairly well known that, God has given a set of laws and with its guidelines for

the enforcement. Of those laws, not only does the Mosaic Law defines sin, but

it is specified in penalties for those who breaks the Law. Any Law is

essentially meaningless without enforcement. The people in Bible times may

not has a police force as one think of one’s today, but they definitely has those

who promotes justice by one who enforces the law. The Bible's references to

watchmen (Ezekiel 33.6), armed guards (Nehemiah 4:13), and judges (Ezekiel

44.24 and the whole book of Judges) can be seen as examples of law

enforcement.

"God is a God of justice" (Deuteronomy 32:4). He demands justice of

his people as, "Follow justice and justice alone" (Deuteronomy 16:20). This

command implies the necessity of law enforcement God has always given the

responsibility to enforces the law and thereby maintains justice to man.

Defend the weak and the fatherless;

uphold the cause of the poor and the

oppressed. Rescue the weak and the

 35

needy; deliver them from the hand of the

wicked. (Psalm 82:3-4)

Romans 13, deals with submission of government authorities, and the

same passage is instructive on the purpose of law enforcement and police

work:

Rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do

wrong. The one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you

do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason.

They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the

wrongdoer. (Romans 13:3-4)

Police officers or peace officers represent the rulers mentioned in this

passage and extend their authority. Therefore, a Christian concept is involved

in law enforcement that is done with a good and godly thing. The police

officer who enforces just the law of the land should consider himself or

herself as God's servant and then towards the lawbreaker, an agent of God's

wrath which is sent to keep the peace. The theme law enforcement is deeply

connected to the society. Mullen’s writing is often praised for its depth and

attention to detail, allows readers to fully immerse themselves in the world he

creates. His writing style is highly regarded for its ability to draw readers in

and keep them hooks until the very end.

 36

Chapter Four

Humiliation and Death

Humiliation is the abasement of pride, which creates mortification or

leads to a state of being humbled or reduced to lowliness or submission. It is

an emotion felt by a person whose social status, either by force or willingly,

has just decreased. It can be bring about through intimidation, physical or

mental mistreatment or trickery, or by embarrassment if a person is revealed

to have committed socially or legally unacceptable act. In the novel Dark

Town, the themes of humiliation and death are intricately woven into the

narrative, creating a dark and compelling atmosphere.

Humiliating of one person by another is often used as a way of

asserting power over them, and is a common form of oppression or abuse used

in a police, military, or prison context during legal interrogations or illegal

torture. Here, in this novel it is evidently presented and highlighted the theme

of humiliation. The author delves deep into these themes, exploring the

complexities of power dynamics, injustice, and the harsh realities of life.

The depiction of these elements adds layer of depth to the story,

making it a riveting and thought provoking reading. The intricate portrayal of

race relations, social injustices, and the characters inner struggles with moral

dilemmas all play a significant role in enriching the narrative. These elements

combine to create a compelling and immersive reading experience that

resonates.
 37

Additionally, the author’s skillful use of historical context, vivid

imagery, and compelling storytelling techniques further engage readers and

provoke contemplation on important societal issues. Some U.S.States have

experimented with humiliating on shaming law breakers by publishing their

names and indicating their offence. In 2010, there is public outcry about

reports showing police in Dongguan and Guangdong in China leading a

parade of arrested prostitutes for the purpose of humiliating them. The

national Ministry of Public Security reprimanded the local police and affirmed

that such punishments are not allowed.

Life is a struggle to gain self- respect and dignity. And in the battle

against humiliation in the hope of gaining dignity one may experience some

triumphs. Death is the final and ultimate humiliation. In death one laid low

and then one returns to dust. Through death all are humiliated. Humiliation

and humus are related. We strive for the stars, but we return to the soul.

Mortality is defined as the quality or state of being mortal. Literature

provides with various way of approaching death and imagines it from

different perspectives. Some literary deaths are more perplexing and less

easily closed than other. In comedy, violence may hurt but the victim always

survives, whereas tragedy typically represents a meaningful and dramatic

grand scale death that prolongs the scene of dying, as is the case in

Shakespeare’s King Lear.

 38

Death is a natural process experienced by every being. Society’s

attitude towards death and dying has become one of fear and avoidance. The

four categories of death are homicide, suicide, accidental and natural.

Homicide is when a person kills another; this type of death often requires a

volitional act that might result from negligent, reckless, or accidental

activities. It can be categorized into many legal types, such as murder,

justifiable homicide, euthanasia, capital punishment, killing in war, depend on

the cases of the death and the intent or state of mind of the criminal.

In the novel Dark Town, the theme of death is a pervasive and

haunting presence throughout the narrative. The novel explores the impact of

violence, loss and mortality on the characters, highlights the harsh realities of

life in a racially divided society. Death serves as a catalyst for introspection,

forces the characters to confront their own mortality and grapple with the

fragility of existence.

The theme of death in Dark Town adds a sense of urgency and tension

to the story, underscores the high stakes and the profound consequences of the

characters actions. Through its exploration of death, the novel depicts deep

into the themes of power, justice, and redemption, offering a poignant and

thought- provoking reflection on the human experience.

In the novel, The Grass is singing, the white lady resembles Mary and

the black servant is Moses. He murders Mary because of her mistreatment. It

 39

is evidently presented in this novel The Grass is singing, which is a critical

study by Shakti Batra spells out his views on racism , “ Hurt and humiliation,

Moses murders Mary and surrenders himself to the police. He has avenged

himself on the Englishman and, in the process he symbolizes the black

Africans revenge on the white men for the insult, humiliation and atrocities

heaped on them through centuries” (133).

The novel Dark Town, describes about the death of Lily Elsworth and

Dunglow. Here, the theme of death profoundly impacts the characters, shapes

their actions, beliefs and relationships throughout the novel. For the

characters, death serves as a constant reminder of the dangers they face in

their line of work as African American police officers in a racially charged

environment.

The threat of death looms large, heightens their sense of vulnerability

and forces them to navigate dangerous situations with heightened caution and

awareness. Furthermore, the deaths that occur in this novel have a profound

emotional and psychological impact on the characters. Each loss deepens their

sense of grief, anger, and injustice and hold those responsible accountable.

The theme of death also serves as a catalyst for internal conflict, forces

the characters to confront their own fears, doubts, and moral dilemmas as they

navigate the complexities of their roles in a corrupt and oppressive system.

Impoverishment and objection are the propels constituents of Balram's crime

novel. The novel as a whole, is described by the booker judges, as an

 40

extraordinary work that points, “A searing portrait of Indian poverty and

brutal Injustices prevailing in the society. Where the protagonist's incessant

quest for Status culminates in heinous crime” (Anjana Trivedi, 247).

Balram kills his master to come out of the Rooster coop and acquire

Individuality, Identity, Independence and Freedom. He argues that the rich

and powerful person who sucks the blood of the people deserves to be

published even if his family is at the risk, he decides to kill his master by

rationalizing that, “Only a man who is prepared to see his family destroyed,

hunted, beaten and burned alive by the masters can break up of the cop” (176).

With the aim to overcome the social obstacles, he chooses a path

completely away from moral values and ethics and goes down to kill his

master. He feels pity for those who remains slaves during their life, they are

born poor and cling to their poverty till the end of their life, "Once a servant,

the instinct is always there, inside you" (298). They do not even try to come

out of their filthy life and raise themselves. Balram feeds that they lack

courage and strength of will. He feels that they lack courage and strength of

will. He feels him superior to others and conceptualizes that he has the

courage and strong will to come out of the rooster cop and rise and life like a

self-made men, "I've made it! I've broken out of the cop, once I was a driver to

a master, but now I am a master of drivers" (302).

Boggs and Smith call Dunlow and Rake to the scene of an assault on

the African-American side of town. Upon arrival, a man has been stabbed and
 41

instead of helping that man from the situation, Dunlow beats the stabbed man

and refuses to call an ambulance, which forces Boggs to run to a callbox and

call for himself. Here, the brutal nature of Dunlow is evident. On the other

hand, the author also explores the helping mentality of the character Boggs.

Aravind Adiga’s novel, The White Tiger describes that Balram is

being humiliated by his master Mukesh, who scolds and doubts on Balram

even for one rupees. All these things agitate Balram and prepares him to take

a bold step to come out of this servitude. Balram argues that servants are not

being valued by their masters. Balram claims that his master doesn’t have the

right to read his letter. Balram has no privacy in his life that Mr. Mukesh read

out the letter sent by Balram's Grandmother Kusum:

Mr.Ashok spoke in English and I guessed what he said doesn’t

he have the right to read his own letter? And his brother replied

in English and again I guessed, rather than understood his

meaning. He won’t…servants, but they suck the life blood out

of you, don’t they?.(189)

Mr. Mukesh is rude to Balram and he even does not treat Balram as a

human being. He often scolds him and grumbles at him. Another incident

which reveals the hypocrisy of master class is when Balram gives one rupee

to a beggar, Balram exposes the double sidedness of his masters. It is the point

which he does not appreciate his master when he gives a handicapped man a

rupee, his masters got angry on him. This has shocked Balram, as he thinks
 42

his master can speed their money on bribing the corrupted and cannot spents

on the needy. Like this novel, Thomas Mullen describes about Otis Elsworth,

biological father of Lily Elsworth. He has been shot by the white officer. He

has taken money from Prescott house and has gone to Chicago. White cops

corrupt his money and burnt him in the road.

Rake reveals to Boggs that Underhill's name is removed from the

report he submitted on the murder of the woman. Boggs later receives a call

from Toon a writer at The Daily Times, who tells him that the woman in the

yellow dress is believed to be the daughter of Otis Ellsworth, a farmer from a

fictional town, Peacedale Ellsworth identifies the woman's body as his

stepdaughter, Lily Ellsworth. Boggs questions the farmer and discovers that

she worked as a maid for Senator Prescott. Boggs visits the Prescott's house

and uncovers that Lily had left this job months ago.

Meanwhile, Rake stakes out Brian Underhill's apartment in

Mechanicsville, until he sees his partner, Dunlow enters into the apartment.

Rake eavesdrops on the two and his suspicion increases. After seeing Dunlow

and Underhill enter a brothel called Mama Dove's in the African-American

part of town, Rake decides to investigate. Mama Dove tells Rake that

Underhill often picks up her girls, and they are never seen again. Rake tails

Underhill again and is caught. The pair fight and Rake tries to get Underhill to

answer questions about Lily's murder. “You are an ex-cop yet you are now a

pimp? You steal girls from Mama Dove to meet the whims of client who don't
 43

want to be seen again going in to Dark Town. What else do you do? And once

you take the girls from her, here do they go? Some other brothel? Or

something worse?”(208).

Lucius Boggs, is one of the main characters in this novel, is an African

American police officer who becomes involved in investigating the death of a

young black women named Lily Ellsworth. While trying to uncover the truth

behind Lily’s murder, Boggs faces numerous challenges and risks. Ultimately,

he becomes a victim of the corrupt system when he is framed for a crime he

did not commit.

The death of Officer Boggs highlights the dangers faced by African

American Police officers. Lucius tells about report, Underhill's name is

removed. Lucius says to Rake that:

Number one, we can’t prove they killed

anyone. Number two, we are talking about

men I tried to put away, men who should

have gone to jail after the lottery sting but

instead only got fired, and for my trouble,

I got sent to the basement of a coloured …

And I think that, if certain people in APD

had realized that you were looking in to a

man like Brain Underhill, your already

low odds of surviving would have

 44

plummeted yet further, and perhaps I don't

think that's fair. (340)

The character Lily Ellsworth’s murder serves as the central mystery in

this novel Dark Town. She is a young black woman who is found dead in a

landfill. The investigation into her death becomes a catalyst for exposing the

deep-rooted racism and corruption within the Atlanta Police Department. The

circumstances surrounding Lily’s murder has shed light on the mistreatment

and violence faced by black individuals in a racially divided society.

Another incident of death in this novel involves the lynching of a black

man named Sidney. Sidney is accused of a crime he does not commit and is

brutally lynched by a group of white men. This event emphasizes the brutal

nature of racial violence and the lack of justice for black individuals during

that time. It also shows the fear and powerlessness experienced by African

Americans in the face of systematic racism.

Officer Smith, a white police officer, is killed while investigating Lily

Ellsworth’s murder. His death leads to a turning point in the narrative and

highlights the importance of unity and co-operation in the face of prejudice

and corruption. These incidents highlight the intense racial tensions and

corruption prevalent in Atlanta during the 1940s.

Officer Smith’s death serves as a catalyst for the black and white

police officers to come together and work towards a common goal of solving

the murder of Lily Ellsworth. The tragedy of Smith’s death forces them to
 45

confront the systematic racism and corruption within the Atlanta Police

Department. It creates a sense of urgency and determination among the

officers to seek justice and expose the truth.

The term self-murder points to the stigma attached to such an act, so

families regarded it as an undesirable to have a loved ones listed in death

records as murderers and therefore went to great lengths to cover up suicides

in the family. They have paid bribes to the authorities, for example, to prevent

the cause of death. It is important to conceal the cause of a victim's suicide so

as to secure a Christian burial. In Hamlet, the gravediggers discuss the fact

that Ophelia's controversial death might not warrant Christian burial rites.

Meanwhile, Officer Smith’s death leads to a shift in the dynamics

between the white and black police officers. Prior to his death, there is a clear

divide between the two groups, with the white officers often discriminating

against and mistreating their black counterparts. However, after Smith’s death,

some of the white officers begin to realize the importance of unity and co-

operation in solving the case. This shift in dynamics brings about a sense of

collaboration and shared purpose among the officers, regardless of their race.

Aravind Adiga , an Indian writer and a journalist illustrates India’s

class struggle in a globalized world through a retrospective narration in the

Picaresque novel The White Tiger:

But isn't it likely that everyone who

counts in this world, including our Prime

 46

Minister, has killed someone or other on

their way to the top? Kill enough people

and they will put up bronze status to you

near parliament house in Delhi, but that is

glory and not what I am after, All I

wanted was the chance to be a man and

for that, one murder was enough .(318)

Humiliation and sufferings lead Balram in quest of freedom and

ultimately to the path of crime, where he killed his master. Bhagabat Nayak

comments that , “He presents that a desperate man become violent and

aggressive when his freedom is endangered, he is the one who does not accept

his fate, rather he defines it to his fellow beings who are still asleep in the

darkness” (192).

The death of Officer Smith humanizes the white Officers who are

previously portrayed as enforcers of the racist system. It highlights that not all

white officers are corrupt or blinded by prejudice. Some of them genuinely

want to do the right thing and bring justice to the victims. Smith’s death

serves as a wake-up call for these officers, pushing them to question their own

biases and actively challenge the social status.

The strong emotions are evoked among the characters through the

death of Officer Smith. It serves as a reminder of the dangers and risks

involved in trying to uphold justice and fight against a deeply entrenched

 47

system of racism. The novel confronts issues of corruption within the police

force and the broader societal structures.

In this novel, the characters must navigate a system rife with

corruption and abuse of power, which leads to moral dilemmas and choices

between complicity and resistance. By exploring the themes of humiliation

and death in detailed manner, Dark Town offers a profound and nuanced

examination of the social, political, and moral challenges faced by its

characters, it also reflect on the enduring impact of historical injustices and

the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.

Ultimately, the theme of death in this novel drives the characters to

question their beliefs, values, and identities, pushing them to confront the

harsh realities of their world. Overall, Officer Smith’s death in Dark Town

brings about a transformation in the narrative, shifts the dynamics between the

black and white officers, foster unity, and drives the pursuit of justice. It

serves as a pivotal moment in this novel, highlights the complexities of race,

power, and corruption in a racially divided society.

 48

Summation

Dark Town is a novel by Thomas Mullen. The story is set in Atlanta in

1948 and revolves around two African American police officer, Lucius Boggs

and Tommy Smith,who are part of the newly formed Atlanta Police

Department’s first black precinct. Thomas Mullen is an American writer, an

Irish Fianna Fáil politician and school teacher. Mullen is inspired to write

Darktown after reading Where Peachtree Meets Sweet Auburn: A Saga of

Race and Family by Gary Pomerantz. He finished his first draft after Michael

Brown is shot parallels between past and present issues of race and police

violence drove. Mullen continue Darktown so that he reminds readers that

nothing happens today is completely without precedent.

The novel explores the challenges and discrimination faced by these

officers as they try to navigate a racially divided and corrupt city. The

dissertation entitled as An Uneven Justice, a Factor of Racism: A Study on

Thomas Mullen’s Darktown rightly suits the theme of injustice and indignity

impact on racism. It explains about the crime, race, and class difference

prevails in the African society.

The police violence has been picturized through the protagonist of the

novel. The crime and racial discrimination plays a major role throughout the

novel. Merriam-Webster describes injustice as the absence of justice, a

violation of one’s rights, unfairness. Injustice is when a decision is made by a

person in power that violates basic human rights or mentally affects someone
 49

or a group of people negatively. Injustice refers to wrongful actions against

individuals within society. This occurs when the unequal get treated equally

while equals get treated unequally.

Thomas Mullen's latest novel, Darktown explains about murder

mystery and police procedural is precisely right for this time, when it will do

good for many Americans to learn something about the complexity of race

relations. This suspenseful novel penetrates that historical void in American

policies that can be easily forget but it is the foundation for what has come to

be known as modern community policy.

Darktown tells the story of two of the first eight black police officers

hired, due to political pressure, by the Atlanta Police Department in the

swelter heat of the summer of 1948. The plot of Dark Town unfolds after

Boggs and Smith witness a white police officer shots a black woman. They

are determined to find justice for the victim, but they face numerous obstacles

as they uncover a web of corruption involving the police force and the

criminal underworld.

Based in reality, the novel blows life into what it must have been like

to be a black man with a badge and gun and paycheck from the city, but

without a patrol car or the ability to arrest whites or even the permission to

punch the clock at police headquarters. The black officers, despised by their

white peers, a quarter of whom belong to the Ku Klux Klan, must bow time

and again to the orders, complacency and corruption of those white peers, for
 50

fear they will lose their jobs or, worse, embarrass their community, those

whose subtle pre-civil rights activism.

The Atlanta Police Department is force to hire first black officers, that

includes war veterans. As they dig deeper into the case, they face threats and

violence from both white supremacist groups and corrupt police officers who

are determined to keep their secrets hidden. Through the major characters,

Mullen explores the theme of racism, corruption, and the struggle for equality

in a racially divided society. The novel also highlights the power of friendship

and the importance to stands up for what is right, even in the face of adversity.

Race is construed as a social fact and as an object of scientific inquiry.

The notion of race is a social constract designed to divide people into groups

ranked as superior and inferior. Racial identity, everyone is assigned a racial

identity whether they are aware of it. Race is a social construct used by group

of people. Race is constructed as a hierarchal human grouping system,

generating racial classifications to identity, distinguish and marginalize some

groups across nations, regions and the world. The problem of racism

seemingly remediated through Afro-American Literature. Afro Americans is

an ethnic group of Americans with total ancestry from racial groups of Africa

African American constitutes the third largest racial group and the second

racial group is the United States.

The white cops are with their authority and patrol cars and freedom to

roam. Lionel Dunlow is a brutal redneck who slowly comes unhinged over the
 51

audacity of the Negro policemen because he has long been a corrupted

recipient of kickbacks from the bootleggers and brothel mothers in Darktown,

the black section of Atlanta the black officers are hired to patrol.

Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith, two of Atlanta's first African-

American police officers, witness a white man hit and knock over a lamp post

and slowly flee the scene. Sufferings and enduring of black people, and the

nobleness of feeling. The pain is inflicted by others. He finds that Lilly

Elsworth is not treated as human by the white lady. Lily Elsworth has

involved in a Negro rights organization of racial cooperation league. Her aim

is to fight against the white people to get equal rights.

Racial discrimination leads to corruption often follows women, girls,

black people and other facing racial or ethnic discrimination are all more

exposed to corrupt demands because of the exclusion or stigma they already

experience. Discrimination enables encourages corruption, dishonest officials

are less likely to be occupy when they prey on people already facial

discrimination. Moreover, certain forms of corruption are, in fact, inherently

discriminatory because they target specific groups such as sextoration of

women.

Rakestraw, a young and progressive cop, is interested in the same kind

of justice the black cops want, even if it means he will be branded a

sympathizer. He must navigate two worlds earning the trust of the black cops

and tiptoeing around the whites. Law enforcement is the activity of some
 52

members of government who act in an organized manner to enforce law by

discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the

rules and norms governing that society. The term encompasses police, courts,

and corrections. The role of law enforcement in perpetuates racial injustice

and systematic racism. Through, which Mullen exposes the ways in which law

enforcement reinforces and upholds the existing power structures that

marginalize and oppress the black community.

This chapter gives a clear picture about the murder of Lily Ellsworth

and self-murder of Silas Prescott and also the death of Dunglow. In this study,

the researcher deals with racial tensions and civil right movement beyond that

the future researchers can investigate how police brutality and misconduct

affects the society and also can conduct in-depth literary analysis to examine

the work’s narrative structure and character development. This study brings

the message to the society that racial equality happens when all the people are

treated in an egalitarian manner.

Mullen explores the internal struggles they face as they navigate their

roles as police officers while also subjected to systematic racism. Here, the

study delves into the personal lives, highlighting the complexities of their

relationships and toll their work takes on their mental and emotional well-

being. The historical details in this study make it a compelling work that sheds

light on a dark chapter in American history.

 Works Consulted
Primary Source:

Mullen, Thomas. Dark Town. Atria, 2016.

Secondary Source:

Batra, Shakti. The Grass is Singing: A Critical Study. Surjeet Publications,

2019.

Dervark, Inekevan. “ Racism, a threat to Global Peace ” The international

Journal of Peacestudies, 2023.
https://www3.gmu.edu/programs/icar/ijps/vol8_2/valk.htm

Horby, AS. Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of current English.

Oxford University Press, 1995.
https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Oxford_Advanced_Learner_s
_Dictionary_of/7g94mwEACAAJ?hl=en

Nyak, Bhaghat, “Review of the White Tiger by Aravind Adiga”

Harpercollins Publishers, 2008.https://www.storizen.com/book-
reviews/the-white-tiger-by-aravind-adiga/

Singh Vanita, “An insight in to the works of Toni Morrison” Racial

discourse, African Publication,
2014.https://www.womenshistory.Org/education-
resources/biographies/toni-morrison.
Social Injustice and Public Health Barry S Levy and Victor W Sidel (Eds),
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6915130_Social_Injustice_a
nd_Public_Health_Barry_S_Levy_and_Victor_W_Sidel_eds

The Holy Bible. The New Revised Standard Version, Theological

Publication, 1999.

Trivedi, Anjan, “The White Tiger: A Symposium of critical Response” The

White Tiger: Balram’s Quest for Status, edited by R.K.Dhawan, India:
Prestige, 2011.
https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Aravind_Adiga_s_The_White
_Tiger.html?id=JG8VywAACAAJ&redir_esc=y

Wessh, Joe. “The theme of racism in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird”

GRIN, 2019.www.grin.com/document/494396

Williams Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer. Harpercollins Publishers, 2010.

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/one-crazy-summer-rita-
williams-garcia?variant=32117146877986