What is the main conflict of the story Gold Cadillac?

Answer 1

This is a novella written by Mildred E. Taylor about a young girl named Lois and her family's experience of racism during the beginning of the civil rights era. The story is set to happen in Ohio and Mississippi in the early 1950's. The story is told by Lois who heoically fights the racism she encounters in the story. The main characters are Lois, her sister Wilma and the girl's parents. The main events are the trip from Ohio to Mississippi the family takes together, the jailing of the family father by a racist policeman who believes he has stolen the new and golden colored Cadillac. Other main points are the reaction of the people in those states to the black American family driving this fancy car, the family's reaction to those people and how the family comes to a new understanding about how others view them. In the beginning of their trip, there are no problems. People admire the new car and the man driving it as well as his family. However, as the family gets deeper into the South, the level of anger, envy and suspicion shown by the local population gets gradually higher until the family father is wrongfully jailed, which is the high point of the story. Later, the problems are resolved but the lesson the you girls learn is that they have reason to be afraid because of people's reaction to their skin color. The possession of the golden Cadillac, signalling wealth and affluence, was in stark contrast to the social reality and standing of many colored people in the Deep South at this time. The sisters had never before been afraid because of people's reaction to their skin color, but their world view changes as they drive on. Finally, the problems are resolved but the family will never be the same again. The story is one of a victory of Lois and shows her strong character and love for her family.

Answer 2

The main conflict in "The Gold Cadillac" by Mildred D. Taylor is racial prejudice and discrimination faced by an African American family traveling from the North to the South in the 1950s. The family encounters discrimination and hostility due to the car they are driving, a gold Cadillac, which symbolizes wealth and status and highlights the racial tensions of the time.