Although the acts of Douglass were his alone, they still have an effect on the surrounding black community. His actions caused white people to treat other black people within the community poorly and with contempt, despite their lack of involvement, or their previous "right-standing" with the white people.

I am unsure who exactly made this comment, and I am also unsure of the tone with which it was delivered. However, with consideration of the context of this story, I would suggest that this commentator is most sensitive to the experience of the child. It seems that the commentator is focusing on the effects of Douglass and the woman's relations- the child. Due to the nature of its parents, the child will have a difficult life ahead of it. Although the child is born in Ohio, which faced less racial tensions than states in the South, the child was not only born out of adultery, but out of interracial adultery. In addition to this, the child was born to a poor negro father and a well to do white mother. This history would only cause the child to be further ostracized in society because of its sheer existence enrages racist white people and reinforces the cautious sentiment of black people that would make them want to stay away from white people.

I found this quote to be very interesting considering that it is written in the perspective of a colored woman. Iin the past, interracial relationships between white and balck people were frowned upon. As someone who comes from interracial parents, it is so heartbreaking to see a comment like this in writing. By no means am I hurt by what Langston wrote. Moreso, I am hurt by the historical context of this comment. Not only were interracial relationships frowned upon by white people, but black people were also often cautious of them because of the social issues and turmoil they could bring about.