Why is society to blame for the murder Absalom committed?

As far as chapter 14 is concerned I would say it is the great fear induced devide between whites and blacks. Stephen wishes to know why he carried a revolver, and he says that he never knows when he might be attacked. Absalom says that he was frightened when the white man came so he shot him, but did not mean to kill him. Absalom weeps over everything, but Stephen continues and asks why he wrote no message to him. Absalom blames the devil, but Stephen asks whether he can say that he fought with the devil and had no strength left. One wonders if the Devil, to Absalom, is white society.