Coalhouse Walker

I'd like to start this blog saying that I wrote it last week and never realized I hadn't published it until now.

As readers should we be sympathetic to Coalhouse walker at this point in the novel? My thoughts have been on both sides of the argument at times and I would like to bring together what we know about him so we can come to some conclusions. We know that Coalhouse has lost several things near to him, his car, his ability to marry Sarah when he had the chance, Sarah herself, and perhaps most important, his identity as an citizen and not just a black man. Of course it is easy to feel sympathetic to someone who has lost so much,but can we continue to be sympathetic after his actions of revenge? Can his cause be justified as being a spark that may ignite future change on the road to complete civil liberties for those of color. I believe that while getting a great deal of attention, the actions of Coalhouse will do nothing but reinforce stereotypes of inferior and violent black people. It also strikes me that Coalhouse is directing his attention at people that were not at all involved with the situation. Sympathy only lasts so long and I think that my sympathy for Coalhouse has ran out right now and I believe he truly has gone mad.