English Project 3-10-09

We all know that there is still racism in the world, even in this present day of age. But, in the 1920's racism wasn't hidden like it is today, it was out in the open. Not only were there racism between whites and blacks, but also blacks and blacks over the complexion of their skin. In the book, Their Eyes were Watching God, there were many racist statements made between the same race. I have to admit that before reading the story and finding out that Janie was mixed with black; I expected her to act as if she was better then other blacks, because she was lighter. But that wasn't the case at all, Janie could had cared less about the color of her skin or other people skin, because she was such a kind hearted, opened minded person. But I'm sure that Janie felt out of place in the world, like any other mixed person back then. She couldn't/wouldn't fit in with whites, because she was black; and she couldn't/wouldn't fit in with blacks, because she's to light. Some black women were somewhat jealous of her, because she was light and felt as if she had an advantage over them. Black men loved her, because: she was lighter, had the long hair, and looked different from everyone else and black women despised her for that. But, there was someone in the book who did believe she was better then blacks, because of her lighter skin and that person was Mrs. Turner.
Mrs. Turner was so racists against blacks that she states, "You'se different form me. Ah can't stand black niggers. Ah don't blame de white folks from hatin' 'em 'cause Ah can't stand 'em mahself. 'Nother thing, Ah hates de see folks lak me and you mixed up wid 'em. Us oughta class off." "And dey makes me tired. Always laughin'! Dey laughs too much and dey laughs too loud. Always singin' ol' nigger songs! Always cuttin' de monkey for white folks. If it wuzn't for so many black folks it wouldn't be no race problem. De white folks would take us in wid dem. De black ones is holdin' us back." The fact that she doesn't want to be put in the same category as blacks , shows a huge separation between dark blacks and light blacks. Mrs. Turner is so disgusted with blacks for causing the separation, while forgetting that she is black and the fact that its not blacks fault for the separation between blacks and whites; it's whites fault, because their making it a problem. Mrs. Turner is really letting the issue of color go to her head, she does believe that she is way better the "common blacks", and she's not; that's way whites still won't accept her, because deep down inside she's still black. All I'm trying to say is that no matter how hard you try to pretend your something or someone else, people will know or find out who you really are eventually.