In my paperback copy, page 12 is the first hint that Shadow is maybe not white:
"I don't get you, Shadow," said Wilson, as they walked. "What's not to get, sir?" "You. You're too fucking quiet. Too polite. You wait like the old guys but you're what? Twenty-five? Twenty-eight?" "Thirty-two, sir." "And what are you? A spic? A gypsy?" "Not that I know of, sir. Maybe." "Maybe you got nigger blood in you. You got bigger blood in you, Shadow?" "Could be, sir." Shadow stood tall and looked ahead, and concentrated on not allowing himself to be riled by this man.
It's not too in your face about it, but Gaiman's clearly trying to sneak in physical description of his main character via the interrogation with the prison guard.
no subject
"I don't get you, Shadow," said Wilson, as they walked.
"What's not to get, sir?"
"You. You're too fucking quiet. Too polite. You wait like the old guys but you're what? Twenty-five? Twenty-eight?"
"Thirty-two, sir."
"And what are you? A spic? A gypsy?"
"Not that I know of, sir. Maybe."
"Maybe you got nigger blood in you. You got bigger blood in you, Shadow?"
"Could be, sir." Shadow stood tall and looked ahead, and concentrated on not allowing himself to be riled by this man.
It's not too in your face about it, but Gaiman's clearly trying to sneak in physical description of his main character via the interrogation with the prison guard.