The Sport of the Gods

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The Sport of the Gods (1902) by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a powerful novel about the struggles of an African American family facing racism, injustice, and societal hypocrisy in post-Reconstruction America.

The story follows Berry Hamilton, a former slave who works as a butler for a wealthy white family in the South. When Berry is falsely accused and imprisoned for theft, his family - wife Fannie and children Joe and Kitty - are left destitute. They move to New York City, hoping for a fresh start. However, life in the North proves harsh: Joe gets caught up in a life of vice and downfall, while Kitty becomes entangled in the world of entertainment.

Ultimately, the family's dreams are shattered by urban corruption and systemic racism. Berry is eventually proven innocent and released, but the damage to his family is already done.

The novel critiques the illusion of progress for Black Americans and explores themes of racial injustice, family disintegration, and moral decay in both North and South.