Colson Whitehead and Esi Edugyan Novels on Slavery Reviewed

Artribune reviews two novels on slavery and liberation: Colson Whitehead's "The Underground Railroad" (2016) and Esi Edugyan's "Washington Black" (2018). Both are written by African American authors, featuring young protagonists—Cora and Washington—on perilous journeys through slave territories, from Georgia and Barbados respectively. The review highlights how even progressive states enforced strict fugitive slave laws. It connects the novels to art and museums: Washington Black's salvation comes through his extraordinary drawing ability, while Cora is forced to perform a mockery of slavery in an "ethnological" museum. The review also critiques white progressive guilt, quoting Washington's accusation to his former "good" master. Marco Enrico Giacomelli authored the piece, published in Artribune Magazine #54.