A Racial Parallel by Ambrose Bierce
"A Racial Parallel" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1890. The story follows two men, one white and one black, who are stranded on a deserted island after a shipwreck. Despite their initial animosity towards each other, the two men eventually form a bond as they work together to survive on the island. However, when a rescue ship arrives, the white man is saved while the black man is left behind, highlighting the racial injustices of the time. The story serves as a commentary on the absurdity of racial discrimination and the importance of treating all individuals with equality and respect.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1899 · Genre: Fiction, Racial Relations, Historical Fiction · 88 words
First lines
Some White Christians engaged in driving Chinese Heathens out of an
American town found a newspaper published in Peking in the Chinese tongue, and compelled one of their victims to translate an editorial. It turned out to be an appeal to the people of the Province of Pang Ki to drive the foreign devils out of the country and burn their dwellings and churches. At this evidence of Mongolian barbarity the White Christians were so greatly incensed that they carried out their original design.
What this Textopian page supports
A Racial Parallel is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1899 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Racial Relations, Historical Fiction, Social Issues
- Length: 88 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Racial Parallel by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Racial Parallel?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Society Leader by Ambrose Bierce
- The Pearls And The Swine by Barry Pain
- The Merrie Tales Of Jacques Tournebroche by Anatole France
- The Cheshire Cat And The Kilkenny Cats by Jorge Luis Borges
- Remordimiento Por Cualquier Muerte by Jorge Luis Borges
- Frivolous Cupid by Antonio Hope
Genres
- Fiction — The book is a creation of the author's imagination with a plot revolving around parallel racial issues.
- Racial Relations — The title and context of the book suggests it deals with racial issues and their parallels.
- Historical Fiction — Assuming the plot of the book deals with historical race relations, which often resonate with Bierce's works.
- Social Issues — Racial parallel suggests the presence of social disparities as key themes within the story.
Tags
Racism · Social commentary · Fiction · Short stories · Satire · Humor · Parody · Irony · Allegory · Symbolism · Mythology · Fable