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Essay / Modernist tradition in How It Feels to Be Colored and Sweat are at stake. The most important being the welfare state of African Americans in America at that time. However, Hurston's effortless depiction of the lives of African Americans during her time, her consistent use of African American women in her stories to advance feminism, and her influence toward other authors during the Harlem Renaissance make her one of, if not the greatest, contributor. to the modernist movement. During Hurston's time, there were many other pioneers of the Harlem Renaissance, such as Langston Hughes and WEB Du Bois, with whom Hurston worked, but what sets Hurston apart from the group is the versatility with which she proof in his writings. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay An approach to writing that includes those who are voiceless, was the ultimate goal of Hurston's writing, to represent for those who can” I don’t do it myself. During Hurston's time, she helped illuminate the identity of all African Americans, not just African American men. Hurston published “How It Feels To Be Colored Me” in 1928, at a time when America was still in the dark shadow cast by the history of slavery. Hurston's parents were slaves, so she understood the enormous psychological repercussions of living in a post-genocidal culture and then magically trying to fit into the same society that, only a generation ago, considered you a property, but especially not as a human being. African American identity was left in ruins, but Hurston understood that for African Americans to continue moving forward, they needed to have some idea of who they were before slavery. “Slavery was the price I paid for civilization, and the choice was not mine. »(3). Hurston inserts the reader into his direct stream of consciousness, and his explanation of the destruction of his ancestor's identity is perfect. This assertion of having a pre-slavery heritage as a means of African-American progression aligns with WEB Dubois, in terms of the education it implies, but as for reclaiming identity, this idea belongs to Hurston. At the same time, American women had just won the right to vote, but African-American men and women were still a long way off. Harlem had many male African American writers, but for women, there weren't as many. Yet it's the scrutiny of African-American women that Hurston highlights: "It's thrilling to know that for every one of my actions, I will receive twice as much praise, or twice as much blame." (3). The judgment Hurston is referring to concerns gender bias in post-slavery America, particularly in the African American community. A man who is not the breadwinner of the family will be scrutinized in the same way as the criticism Sykes receives from Moss. “Syke Jones hadn't fired, a gunpowder shot could have killed them. Not for, eh, that’s not the case” (6). Delia is known in her town as the breadwinner of her house, everyone knows that, but the town also knows Sykes' nature, and because of that, Delia is judged for being with him. As Hurston says about the double-edged sword of judgment, it's great when it's in your favor, but it's also very sharp when it's pointed at you. The identity crisis appears in this sense, because if the men who joked about Sykes had atrue sense of identity, they wouldn't focus on Sykes, but rather put Delia on the pedestal she deserves to be on. Another important ideological repercussion of slavery that Hurston focuses on is the infantilization of African Americans. After generations of slavery, and being told that you are not capable of basic thinking, there are bound to be deep psychological wounds that need to be healed. Hurston's account of this feeling brings out the trauma: "They feel more colorful when projected against a crisp white background" (3). His description of the context as stark illustrates the trauma mentioned above. Living in a world intended for white people literally cut into the psyche of African Americans, and the only cure for these cuts was to reform African American identity. America has created a psychological hierarchy to ensure the continuity of white domination, and Hurston reimagines this constant horror as the snake Sykes brings home. White domination horror and the serpent share many characteristics. Like the snake in the cage, the threat of white violence was always there, always ready to strike at a moment's notice, if the opportunity presented itself. The snake also stays in the house for a week, and Delia is forced to live with this threat around her, but she must act as if there is no plausible threat, as if everything is fine. The reader is injected into Delia's indirect stream of consciousness to understand her feelings towards the snake: "She stood in the doorway for a long time in a red fury that grew bloodier and bloodier with every second she looked at the creature which was his torment” (6). Concerning African American female identity, Delia is written as a strong woman, who can not only withstand the tension and violence of the snake, but she is able to use the horror of the snake in her favor. On the surface, Delia resembles the ordinary hero of the story who walks without fear, but she feels fear, which is what motivates her internally. Delia is aware of the danger and fear of the snake's presence, but she remains herself at all times, adapting to the situation. This scene metaphorizes Delia as the identity of the African American woman and the snake as an oppressive force trying to keep that identity at bay. Delia is strong, her will cannot be broken as easily as before. The snake tries to impose who Delia should be, but as dangerous as the snake is, it is caged, Delia is not afraid of the snake's venom. Delia is truly her own person and has a concrete identity. Hurston creates a concrete identity of the African American woman through her work of fiction, the Harlem Renaissance, modernism, and a few branches of feminism all of which benefit greatly from this characterization of Delia, as her traits embody the characteristics of these movements. Feminist Perspective Delia is a great example of the progression of African American women. Eerily similar to Hurston, Delia must also work on building her identity, as well as her income. The 1920s were a great time for Americans and white women, but the economy was not in favor of African Americans. Thus, for Delia, an African American woman, having her own property is exceptional, and much like her identity, she must work hard and “sweat” to obtain it. When Sykes condescendingly scolds Delia about her work, she rebuts it perfectly. “We're done sweating for this place and I think the parents are still sweating in it” (2). Delia never asked to be placed in this line of judgment, but she makes the best of it.
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