Chapter four in Of Mice and Men deals with the racism that Crooks faces as a result of being black in a very white ranching world. Fortunately, Lennie gives us a short peek into the Crooks' life. When Lennie sneaks into Crooks' room in the barn, we see a very isolated and lonely black man who has definitely felt the sting of racism.

This becomes even more apparent when Curly's wife enters the scene. When she and Crooks have a face-off, she threatens him with lynching. He quickly backs down because he knows the power a white woman holds over a black man in the 1930's.

We almost made it to the end of chapter four. Next time we'll finish and see where it leaves us.