Previous
Chapter 13
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Hate Race, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Racial Discrimination in Australia
Racism, Childhood, and Loss of Innocence
Race and Beauty Standards
Injustice and Complicity
The Power of Words
Summary
Analysis
Mr. Spencer, Maxine’s grade seven gym teacher, is a rather severe ex-rugby player. On the first day of gym class, he has everyone run three laps. Maxine always came last or second-last in cross country in primary school, but this time, she does a little bit better: rather than giving up and walking the rest of the way, she manages to maintain a jog and finishes more quickly than she ever has before. However, Mr. Spencer still calls her out, shocked that she ran so slowly despite being the much more athletic Cecelia’s sister. He insists that she must be capable of more, since running is “in [her] blood,” and encourages her to join his running group. As they walk back to the locker rooms, a boy tells Maxine that people call Cecelia “the Black Flash” due to her speed.
Maxine’s experiences during gym class illustrate how even “positive” racial stereotypes can lead to moments of blatant anti-Blackness. Mr. Spencer’s shock at Maxine’s poor running performance reflects the stereotype that Black people are naturally better runners, which seems like a positive trait on face value. However, it puts undue pressure on Maxine, who simply wants to get through class. Furthermore, the nickname for Cecelia, who is good at running, creates the impression that Cecelia’s achievements are due to her race, rather than her own hard work.
Themes
Maxine thinks of all the Black runners she’s seen and wonders if the skill is indeed genetic. Wanting to unlock this potential in herself, she decides to join running group with Cecelia (which irritates Cecelia). While Maxine’s speed does improve over time, it eventually plateaus, and she continues to be one of the lowest-performing runners in the group. Mr. Spencer is disappointed and subtly encourages her to try another activity, but Maxine sticks with it, as she comes to enjoy the pain and struggle of running. She wonders if this is why Cecelia enjoys running: because it is an escape for her from the rest of the world.
Although Maxine’s attempt at running group confirms that she certainly does not have any “natural talent” for running, it nevertheless becomes a surprisingly liberating experience for her. Not only does her performance disprove Mr. Spencer’s racist assumptions about Black runners—to the point that he essentially asks Maxine to quit—it becomes an outlet for her, where she has a safe space to struggle outside of her harassment-filled classrooms.
Themes
