Behind the Story: Flask

*This post contains spoilers. If you haven’t yet done so, read “Flask” by Garrett Dennert now.

“Flask” still agonizes me, due to its inclusion of a terrible racial slur. The protagonist of “Flask” is Lucas, an eight-year-old white boy growing up in 1960s Arkansas. His father is a mortician at a funeral home owned by Mr. Xavier, a racist man who has seen in integration efforts the opportunity to make more money. For the first time, the funeral home’s doors have been opened to black people....