No slave had ever keeled over dead at a spinning wheel or been butchered for a tangle. But nobody wanted to speak on the true disposition of the world. And no one wanted to hear it.
This quote by Colson Whitehead from The Underground Railroad poignantly exposes the silence and denial surrounding the brutal realities of systemic oppression and slavery. It highlights how the violent and inhumane truths of exploitation were often hidden or ignored by society, opting instead for comforting myths or obfuscation. The imagery of a slave not dying at a spinning wheel or being killed for a tangle emphasizes the quiet endurance of suffering that went unnoticed, or at least unacknowledged, by those outside their world. This deliberate silence perpetuates a cycle of complicit ignorance, where acknowledging such brutal truths would force society to confront its moral failings. It also suggests that the true nature of the world's disposition—its underlying injustice—is intentionally avoided, both by those suffering under it and by those comfortable enough to turn away. Confronting those realities would demand change, and history shows that many prefer to remain in denial or ignorance rather than face uncomfortable truths. Whitehead uses this reflection to challenge the reader to acknowledge the hidden sufferings and the societal complicity that sustains them, urging a recognition of truths that many would prefer to remain unheard. Recognizing these uncomfortable realities is the first step towards genuine understanding and change, an ongoing struggle that requires courage and honest reflection.
