"Conscience of the Court"

I think this story provides a good explaination about the relationships between blacks and their white employers. This story provides a very historically well written story of Laura Lee and her friendship and loyalty to her employer. In the time period, in which this story was written, many black families (like Laura Lee's) lived on their employer's property while working for them and it was not uncommon for their children to grow up together. During this time period, the relationship between an employer and the employee was very important and very close. If the black went against this relationship and did not do everything they were commanded to do, the punishment could mean loosing his/her job (very fearful for blacks at this time) or a beating. The love and affection Laura Lee had for Celestine was partially fear and was also not easily gone against because she has grown up with her.

"Conscience of the Court" also gives readers a sense of the general relationships and conflicts between black people and white people. At this time, blacks were seen as the "inferior race" and whites felt as if they had superiority and control over them. For example, Celestine had control over Laura Lee and was, in a sense, playing with her emotions. Celestine's "love" for Laura Lee was driven by her dominance over her; Celestine knew she could control Laura Lee and that Laura Lee was so loyal that she wouldn't dare leave her. Another example are the actions between Laura Lee and Clement Beasley. When he got angry with Laura Lee, he kicked her. If this story were written in a contemporary time period, he would not have just resorted to violence. At this time, because blacks were "inferior," hate crimes were very prevalent and no consideration was put towards black people's lives.