Mudbound Chapter Summary Sparknotes

In Mudbound, by Hillary Jordan, characters of many different backgrounds interact in the Mississippi River delta. Although the novel takes place at a time when races are technically equal, many older white characters carry their prejudices into farm life, discriminating against their black peers, whether consciously or unconsciously. As she explores race relations in her novel, Jordan asserts that racial discrimination is insidious, still existing despite good intentions and a lack of overt offense.

Racial discrimination is most obviously illustrated during scenes in which white and black characters interact, but is also present in the novel’s narration. Mudbound offers several points of view, half by the white McAllan family and the rest by their black tenants, the Jacksons. Both Henry and Laura McAllan pride themselves for being progressive for their time, compassionate rather than antagonistic towards their non-white neighbors. It is this false sense of superiority that illustrates their true beliefs. When Laura goes into town to find a doctor for Hap, it is because she is worried about how she will manage without Florence to help her, not because she genuinely cares about him as a person. Henry views black people as simplistic and childlike, refusing to see Hap, Florence, and Ronsel

as the adults they are. Laura and Henry believe that they are good Samaritans, but in reality, they patronize and devalue the Jackson family for no reason other than skin color. First person narration is valuable in Mudbound because it illustrates the naive ignorance of the McAllans as they unwittingly reinforce the system of injustice they claim to be against. Only through the words of the Jacksons does the audience fully understand the repercussions of the Laura and Henry’s half-hearted attempts at overcoming their prejudices. These prejudices were not unique to the Mississippi River delta, and the discriminatory attitude prevailed across the nation.
Ronsel experiences racism first-hand both as a soldier and civilian when he returns to his family’s farm. He, unlike the other young black men in his army division, grew up facing discrimination, and was unsurprised by the actions of the white soldiers and townsmen during his training in the United States. His commanding officer’s remark about wanting the Black Panthers to have the cleanest uniforms in the army is significant because it represents the struggle for a black soldier to gain respect. Since white people were assumed to be dominant and superior in the World War II era, they could essentially behave however they wanted without repercussion. On the other hand, black people were viewed with suspicion at best or lynched at worst, regardless of their behavior. In order for the black soldiers to be seen as relevant at all, they had to be model soldiers, down to the smallest button on their uniforms. For a black soldier, a speck of mud or dust was a mark of inferiority, a sure sign that they would be disrespected.
Dirtiness is an important symbol throughout Mudbound because it represents both physical and ideological purity.

Mud and dirt are abundant in the delta, leaving its inhabitants constantly unclean and in desperate need of a bath. Everyone is the same color when covered from head to toe in mud, yet racial tensions are still high. When Ronsel is taken by the white farmers, they all attempt to disguise themselves with white Klan robes and pillowcases, but many of their garments are yellowed from stains and age. They look clean in comparison to Ronsel only because his is searching through mud in a ditch, but his appearance only reinforces the farmers’ ideas about their own

superiority.
Racial discrimination has been an issue in the United States since its inception. Though there have been numerous movements to end discrimination, many people are still prejudiced and will likely remain that way. Just as the white farmers in Mudbound are hesitant to let go of their biases, many American citizens still harbor racist ideals, whether ovary or subconscious. Jordan’s assertions about the racism lurking in society hold true both in Mudbound and throughout history.