The symbolism of the skeleton
The skeleton of the violent white man, which was discovered in the 1920s, symbolizes the mortality of human beings. When this white man was alive, he violently killed the black people, thinking he was superior and could live for eternity. However, the reality is that no man is immortal because every person has to die at some point. Therefore, the skeleton symbolizes death which every person, regardless of superiority, will have to pass through.
Arvin’s death
Arvin's death symbolizes unending racism. Racism has been in place over the centuries, and it is still the elephant in the room. Arvin is pushed to death by a white man who walks scot-free after the incident. The incident represents the humiliation and killings that the blacks are subjected to by the whites.
Rowan as a symbol
Rowan symbolizes the people of color and their struggles to fit in a society that views them as insignificant. Rowan's father is white, while her mother is black. Therefore, Rowan is considered black, and she does not fit well in the white society, which discriminates against blacks.
Clarence Banks’ death
Both Clarence and William are interested in a girl called Adeline. When the two meet with the girl, a quarrel breaks out, and the police quickly intervene. Clarence is a black man, while William is a mixed-race person. The police discriminately landed on Clarence because of his black colour, and they beat him to death. Consequently, the death of Clarence Banks symbolizes the white police's brutality against the blacks.
