The Marrow of Tradition

"The Marrow of Tradition" by Charles W. Chesnutt is a story that takes place in the South after the Civil War. It looks at the difficult relationships between white and Black people through the lives of different characters. The story begins with Major Carteret and his wife, Olivia, as they wait for their baby to be born, and Olivia worries about her health. Mammy Jane, an old nurse, shows how the Black and white families are connected, even with a history of unfair treatment. The book shows not just the personal struggles of characters but also the bigger problems of racial tension in their town, Wellington, exploring ideas about where people come from, who they are, and how the past affects a divided country.