‘A Dark Brown Dog’ is an Edwardian short story penned by American short-story writer Stephen Crane. Crane was a prolific novelist, poet, and short-story writer. This short story titled ‘A Dark Brown Dog’ is an allegorical story about America’s African-American population who were grappling with their new freedom after the American Civil War ended. The use of allegory brings out the severity of the Jim Crow laws that still subjugated the Black American population. Like the little dark-brown dog in this short story, they were given freedom, but the Southern White American only tolerated them. These White Americans had no love for the Black Americans in their hearts. The little boy represents the new crop of white Americans who were tolerant and even close to the Black American population, but they, like the child, did not have the means to make their voices heard. The voice of the mob was to abuse the rights of the African-Americans. Note that ‘A Dark Brown Dog’ was written by Stephen Crane in 1893 and was published in 1901.

Narrator: Peter Coates

Listening Length: 00:15:01