|
When contemplating the life and legacy of Zora Neale Hurston, one must consider the
author’s address of a very important social issue, colorism or intraracism. As established
by biographers, literary critics, and the author herself, Zora Neale Hurston was deeply
concerned by this disturbing behavior in the African American community, and many of
her works echo the hurt and anguish the author felt in witnessing such self-deprecating
behavior. I feel the authorial presence of Hurston, who believed that she was not
“tragically colored,” in many of her literary works, and I admire her for creating
characters who not only voice her belief but also challenge the views of those who
perpetuate such racial disparities within the community. My intent is to focus on three of
Hurston’s earliest works—Color Struck, Jonah’s Gourd Vine, and Their Eyes Were
Watching God—to demonstrate the author’s foresight in knowing that this problem,
internalized racism, would continue to plague and possibly destroy the community if not
addressed. |