Final answer:
The young boy in 'Kindred' trying to set his drapes on fire is Rufus, showcasing the novel's focus on difficult aspects of American history.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Kindred, the young boy the narrator finds trying to set a drape on fire is Rufus, the son of a plantation owner. This distressing act is early evidence of the complex and often violent relationships that underlie the novel's examination of slavery and race relations.