Nicole Witen answers “I have not finished the book, but wonder...”

Alyce asked this question about The Indigo Girl:

I have not finished the book, but wonder if a large segment of people would feel excluded reading a book in which slaves are property and Indians are a danger... I understand it's historical in the sense that slavery is a part of the American cultural fabric, but I feel like people of color might have little interest in this book. Which is sad. Can any people of color comment on this issue if they have read it?

Nicole Witen I purposely chose to avoid answering this exact question in my review because at the end of the day, I disliked the novel for other (literary) reasons…moreI purposely chose to avoid answering this exact question in my review because at the end of the day, I disliked the novel for other (literary) reasons, but I'm glad to address it now, even if it was asked some time ago. I agree with some answers below - the romance between a white woman and slave? Unthinkable and entirely unnecessary to the story. Eliza is portrayed as someone who sees the humanity in her slaves, but still keeps slaves? - the old conundrum. Owning slaves doesn't take away from the fact that she helped build the economy of South Carolina by introducing indigo to it. Boyd also does not shirk from the idea that indigo was successful because of the slaves. The disconnect is the portrayal of Eliza herself, I think. By trying to make it sound like she was nice to her slaves, it tries to soften the image of a slave owner. Personally, I would have preferred the bare truth, and I think that that tact would have been more palatable to POCs. (less)

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