Many argue that readers cannot simply ignore the parallels between racism and sexism within "The Handmaid's Tale". Many critics believe that Atwood chooses to erase the black community from the novel by sending them elsewhere in order to make the Republic of Gilead a white society. Scholar Ben Merriman believes that Atwood's portrayal of society in "The Handmaid's Tale" mimics that of a society run on black slavery, due to the novel's heavy focuses on "sexual exploitation, isolation, and compelled ignorance that accompany severe economic and political powerlessness", which are themes often associated with African-American slavery. Merriman accuses Atwood of purposely failing to acknowledge the parallels between her novel and the African-American experience. In Gilead, Handmaids are forbidden to read or write and the men in charge control access to literacy. In black slavery, African-Americans had restrictions on literacy as well. Additionally, "The Handmaid's Tale" is written as an oral narration of Offred's experiences; oral narration is a theme commonly associated with slave narratives.