Slaves were commonly referred to by the n-word as if that was their definition of who they were, when Rufus speaks to Dana as a child after she saved his life. he says “WORDS” (PAGE NUMBER). It is a category and a word that means inferior to white and strictly reinforces the idea that the races were not only separate, but that they can all be defined as a single inferior entity. Additionally, Dana is referred to by other slaves as a "white nigger" (PAGE NUMBER) throughout her stay due to her upbringing and her ability to respond to Rufus as if she were his equal. When (NAMES) call it that (PAGE NUMBERS), they mean it in a derogatory way and thus reinforce the ideas of oppression, according to which only white people are intelligent and know how to read or write and that being black is be inferior. They see Dana not as someone to admire, but as someone to despise because of her abilities and this has contributed to further oppression. The insults and ideas had become ingrained in the slaves themselves and even Dana at the end of Kindred continues these ideas when she tries to convince Alice that things aren't so bad for her without meaning to too (PAGE