Colorism in Their Eyes Were Watching God Essay

Colorism Essay

Franz Boas, a German anthropologist know as the Father of American Anthropology, recognized that as people attempt to make sense of their world, they seek to integrate its divergent characteristics, with the result that various ethnicities could be characterized as having diverse configurations. The author of Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston, was one of Boas pupils at Barnard College. Her outlook on racism in this book mirrors Boas teachings. Mrs. Turners colorism is emblematized by her actions and her criticism of the physical appearance and actions of African Americans.

Janie becomes familiar with Mrs. Turner, an African American woman with light skin color and some Caucasian attributes, while working in the Everglades. Mrs. Turner is convinced that physical characteristics of Caucasians are superior to that of African Americans. She says, Ah aint got no flat nose and liver lips (142). Mrs. Turner believes that she is better than other Blacks because she has some physical features that appear more like those of a Caucasian. Mrs. Turner is attracted by Janies coffee-and-cream complexion and her luxurious hair because in her mind, these features make her close to being White. Mrs. Turner ignorantly claims, Yo husband musta had plenty money when yall got married, after learning that she is married to Tea Cake, an African American with dark skin. She incorrectly assumes that Janie married Tea Cake for money because, in Mrs. Turners view, there is no way Janie could love a man with such dark skin. Mrs. Turner claims, Ah cant stand black niggers, (145) revealing her abhorrence of dark skinned Negroes, and she views Tea Cake not worthy enough to be with Janie. Mrs. Turner assumes the viewpoint of a Caucasian because she has similar physical characteristics. Her fixation for being White can be associated with worshipping idols, which allows Mrs. Turner to accept any inconsistency and cruelty from her deity as all good worshippers do from theirs (145). She lives with the belief that people who have lighter skin than her are better than her, so she accepts irrationality and spitefulness from them, and she dishes out to people who have darker skin than her. Mrs. Turners paradise is occupied by straight haired, thin-lipped, high-nose boned white seraphs (145). She has decided to accept what the Caucasians have told her, Whites are superior to Blacks, resulting in Mrs. Turners colorism.

Mrs. Turner is very judgmental of the behaviors and actions of Negroes. She displays her protest towards the African Americans when she proclaims, Dey laughs too much and dey laughs too loud (141). Mrs. Turner feels that Caucasians believe all Blacks call too much attention to themselves, which is why she despises their behavior.

Also, Mrs. Turner ridicules the Blacks for singing ol nigger songs (141). She dislikes seeing African Americans having pride in their race and origins. Mrs. Turner believes that need to behave like Caucasians. Mrs. Turner says that by dressing in all dem loud colors, the Blacks are just bringing themselves more attention. Mrs. Turner deems that the African Americans need to behave and act like Caucasians.

Mrs. Turner stereotypes her own race due to her loathing of Black characteristics. Through her actions, Mrs. Turner conveys an unjustifiably negative attitude towards members of her own race who have darker skin than her. Mrs. Turner never called on a Negro doctor or had uh nigger tuh ever feel [her] pulse (141). Mrs. Turner always calls on a White doctor when she needs medical care because she does not trust a colored doctor. She explains to Janie that she does not go in no nigger store tuh buy nothing neither (142) because she is convinced that Blacks dont have enough knowledge to run a business.

Mrs. Turner has adapted to societys norm that being White and/or having a lighter skin color are better. This has affected Mrs. Turners views of other members of her own race. She stereotypes African Americans who have a darker skin tone than herself and acts like she is a class above them. By distancing herself from darker African Americans, Mrs. Turner expects to become more tolerable to Caucasians. Mrs. Turners frequent visits with Janie make her feel whiter because she is with someone who has Caucasian characteristics, believing that being around Janie makes her whiter.