Racism In Their Eyes Were Watching God
After the Civil War between the North and South, Reconstruction took place in the Union. Slavery was abolished and blacks started to gain freedoms. The 14th amendment gave blacks rights and referred to them as American citizens, and the 15th gave them the right to vote. However, even with these changes Africans Americans were still discriminated against and blamed for the Union’s issues. Racist groups started to emerge, pushing people to victimize the blacks even more. The white society looked down upon the blacks and treated them with disrespect as they were still separate but equal. Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes were Watching God depicts the story of a third century freed slave, Janie, and her fight against this prejudice world. Hurston’s
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Even though the Zora believed that the blacks should separate themselves from the whites, she still believed in getting assistance when needed. When Joe and Janie moved to Eatonville they want to be independent. However this is impossible with only 50 acres of land. Joe decides the only way to be independent is if he gets assistance from the white captain that gave the original 50 acres. He does this and “buys two hundred acres of land at one whack and pays cash for it” (Hurston 38). Joe buys 200 more acres with his own money showing this self-reliance. Although he needed the land from the white man, he does not automatically receive it, as he has to buy the land. Only an unaided person can buy this insanely large amount of property which shows how he acts as an ideal African American. Neale Hurston shows her independence by changing her life with a little help. Mrs. Hurston wants to become educated so “with Meyer’s support Zora enrolled at Barnard College” (Boyd 102). Zora Neale Hurston transfers to Barnard college but gets aid from a man named Meyer. Her individuality is shown by seeking higher education and actually transferring to college, even though she recieves a little help. This idea of self-reliance with some support is shown at the turn of the century through all of the African American society as they try to start a new life. Some of the African Americans do not have any money so certain programs like the Freedmen’s Bureau which helped whites and blacks get on their feet after the Civil
Even though the Zora believed that the blacks should separate themselves from the whites, she still believed in getting assistance when needed. When Joe and Janie moved to Eatonville they want to be independent. However this is impossible with only 50 acres of land. Joe decides the only way to be independent is if he gets assistance from the white captain that gave the original 50 acres. He does this and “buys two hundred acres of land at one whack and pays cash for it” (Hurston 38). Joe buys 200 more acres with his own money showing this self-reliance. Although he needed the land from the white man, he does not automatically receive it, as he has to buy the land. Only an unaided person can buy this insanely large amount of property which shows how he acts as an ideal African American. Neale Hurston shows her independence by changing her life with a little help. Mrs. Hurston wants to become educated so “with Meyer’s support Zora enrolled at Barnard College” (Boyd 102). Zora Neale Hurston transfers to Barnard college but gets aid from a man named Meyer. Her individuality is shown by seeking higher education and actually transferring to college, even though she recieves a little help. This idea of self-reliance with some support is shown at the turn of the century through all of the African American society as they try to start a new life. Some of the African Americans do not have any money so certain programs like the Freedmen’s Bureau which helped whites and blacks get on their feet after the Civil