The novel “Kindred” was written by Octavia Butler in 1979. It is one of the few slave narratives written in a science fiction style. Using such style the author tried to reexamine the consequences and legacy of slavery through a modern perspective.

The protagonist of the book, Dana, turns 26 years old in the summer of 1976. She is a young African American, who is married to a white man and has a calm and predictable life. Without a conscious intent, she travels in time from her home in Southern California to a plantation in Maryland. The visits to the plantation happen at a time that precedes the Civil War events and demonstrate the cruelty and violence of the slavery.

In her travels, Dana meets a son of the slave-owners, named Rufus, and gets to grow fond of him despite the terrible things he would do in the future. She also gets to meet her ancestors, as well as experiences the cruel treatment most black people got in the 1800s. Dana’s visits start to grow longer and longer, sometimes she even takes her husband with her.

At some point Dana is beaten to the extent that she looses the will and desire to run away from the cruel treatment she experiences. She forgets that she comes from a place where all black people are free and no longer seems to think of herself as a human being with dignity.

The novel operates on the edge of different concepts: time, love, race, and power. Most importantly, it elaborates that freedom is a skill that is taught and nourished and maybe explains a little bit why it took the country so long to drop down the handcuffs of slavery. "Kindred" is a very relevant read in the society that is still struggling to reconcile and provide equal opportunities for all its members.

Author: Craig Brown