Part 4 ~ Why was Curley's wife mean to Crooks?

I believe she was mean to Crooks because there was still racists at this time in our country. Because she said, "'You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?"' (80). She also said, "'Well, you keep your place then, n*****. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny"' (81). I think she was really mean to Crooks, and Crooks couldn't do anything back to her because he feared she could probably have him hung. I also believe Curley's wife overused her power because she was married to the boss' son. Slavery had been abolished but there was still a ton of discrimination and racism at this time.