The books that I read were, Incognegro and Monster. Both of these books have had similar impact on me but in different ways. In Monster the main character is on trial for a murder but is he being judged because he was an accomplice or is it because he is a young black boy at the right place at the wrong time, with the wrong people. In the book Incognegro Zane's brother Pinchy is on trial for killing a white women even though the sheriff knew that he was innocent. Now power is "possession of controlling influence." In both of these books the characters who are white have the power. They can influence the people around them into thinking that a black man is guilty of a crime that he did not commit. This power can be used for good but it was often used for the worst, especially down south.
In the book Incognegro we see the influence that power has on all the characters as well as what kinds of privilege are offered to those who are thought to be white. The sheriff and the man who has the one eye are perfect examples of power. All sheriff had to do was arrest Pinchy and tell the mob that he killed a white women and everything was set in motion. The hatred that was already there was sparked and everyone in that town was ready to kill. All the man with the one eye had to do was bring Carl out to a mob and they were all ready to hang him. It doesn't take much effort to influence someone who already has their mind set on something. In this case the Hatred that they share for African American people.
One thing that I did not know before I read the book Incognegro is that there was a such thing as "passing." I especially didn't know that there were different forms of passing. The obvious were Carl and Zane. Because their skin was so light they were able to pass a white. Carl was offered a place to spend the night, he was invited to parties, and he was treated like a guest of honor. I had no idea that African American who had lighter skin were able to have privileges that were only offered to white people.
I'd have to agree with not knowing what passing was before reading Incognegro. I've never even heard of the term but once introduced to it, I can definately say it makes sense. I agree with the two obvious cases of passing but then they are the two cases that are more under the radar; the character of Sheriff and Pinchy's wife.
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