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Introduction
One of my main concerns about my paper is that I am unsure how to approach racism from an unbiased perspective. I aim to critically analyze how authors portray racism in their works without prejudice or preconceived notions. I may interpret things too personally, which could affect the accuracy of my paper. Another concern is that I need to determine if I am doing enough background research on each literary work. To make sure I adequately discuss racism in each work, I need to have a deep understanding of each work’s history and context. Lastly, I need help finding appropriate resources and evidence to support my claims throughout the paper. Since this topic is so vast and widely debated, I need reliable sources that reflect the current scholarly consensus on racism and its portrayal in these three works.
The Portrayal of Racism in Literary Works
It is essential to focus on the common threads among the three literary works—Elegy of the Color Purple by Kate Hanson Foster, Play Fences by August Wilson, and Sweat by African American Zora Neale Hurston. Each work reveals different aspects of racism in America, from social discrimination and segregation to economic exploitation. The theme of oppression is presented in all three texts: in Elegy of the Color Purple, there is a clear contrast between white privilege and black oppression. The Play Fences explores the psychological traumas endured by black Americans, and Sweat echoes the struggles of rural African-American women trapped in abusive marriages. Racism is depicted differently in Foster’s poem Elegy of the Color, Hurston’s novel Sweat, and Wilson’s play Fences. Still, each narrative highlights the damaging effects of racism on many levels in American society.
Examining the Portrayal of Racism in Elegy of the Color Poem
From the poem, the speaker seems to believe that people of color are inferior to white people. It can be seen in lines such as, “The darkness you carry around” and “You have no voice because (Foster).” In these lines, the speaker implies that people of color are doomed. They are not given the same opportunities as those who are white, and they are constantly carrying around this weight of darkness.
Exploring Fences by August Wilson and His Intricate Look at Racism
In his play Fences, August Wilson takes a nuanced and intricate look at racism in the United States. The play is set in the 1950s when African Americans struggled for fundamental civil rights (Wilson). Fences is a powerful and moving play, providing a much-needed perspective on one of the most critical issues of racism. One of the most prominent messages in August Wilson’s Fences is that of love, family, and betrayal.
Uncovering Zora Neale Hurston’s Sweat and How It Examines Racial Tensions
Sweat examines racial tensions in the early 20th century. The play is set in a small town in Florida, and it follows the interactions between black and white characters. Sweat is written when most plays and movies about race were told from the perspective of white people (Hurston). Hurston decided to take a different approach, and she used the perspective of a black woman to explore the dynamics between black and white people. The play was initially produced in Philadelphia in the 1930s but was not performed again until 2006. Since then, it has been produced all over the country.
Comparing the Three Works Regarding Their Depiction of Racism
Throughout all three, one theme that is present is the lack of agency that people of color have in terms of decision-making. It can be seen in Elegy of the Color Poem through the narrator’s descent into literal darkness and inability to process events as they are happening to her. In Fences by August Wilson, black characters struggle with achieving economic success and having control over their lives due to institutional racism (Wilson). Troy’s dream of playing baseball was crushed by a system that deemed black athletes not good enough to play in the major leagues. Similarly, Zora Neale Hurston’s Sweat depicts racism through African-American characters struggling for their rights as underprivileged women in society. Delia is humiliated by her white employer and denied her right to a fair trial when wrongfully accused of theft due to her race and gender. Each work offers insight into different dimensions of racism, but they all speak to frustration with institutional racism and its implications on communities of color.
Connecting Historic Struggles to Contemporary Times with All Three Texts
Kate Hanson Foster uses her poem to illustrate the challenges of being a woman of color and how oppression can lead to an identity crisis. August Wilson’s play, Fences, shows the difficulties of the black experience during post-war America, though many of those struggles are still prevalent today (Hurston). Zora Neale Hurston’s Sweat is another excellent example of this. She tells a story about a hardworking African American woman living in 1920s Florida and the oppression she faces due to racism and classism. All three of these literal works provide insight into how racism has caused harm in the past and continues to do so today.
Exploring Prejudice and Discrimination
Each of these three works offers an insight into the effects of racism and prejudice on its characters. Elegy of the Color Poem offers a glimpse into how Hanson Foster’s protagonists experience racism within their college and in their larger communities. Through their experiences, people get a better understanding of how prejudiced attitudes can affect the way people interact with one another. In the play Fences, it is evident how African American characters are treated differently due to societal stereotypes and expectations. August Wilson’s work also gives an insight into how prejudice can lead to personal isolation and conflict between family members (Hurston). Finally, in Sweat, Hurston’s writing vividly portrays discrimination in terms of employment and housing opportunities for African Americans during the 1920s. The work shows that even when legal rights have been granted to marginalized populations, they still need equal treatment or access to financial success. The text also highlights the need to challenge assumptions about others based on stereotypes and prejudices actively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to the portrayal of racism, it is clear that each piece has its unique take. Elegy of the Color by Kate Hanson Foster presents racism in a more personal and reflective light, while Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston and Fences by August Wilson take a more aggressive approach. It is important to remember that no matter which viewpoint a person chooses to employ, racism is an issue that should be given the attention it deserves. Due to people’s desire to be better than others, the struggle for racial equality is an ongoing global conflict.
Works Cited
Hurston, Zora Neale. Sweat. Rutgers University Press, 1926.
Foster, Kate Hanson. Elegy of the Color Purple. 12th ed., Compact Bedford, 2019.
Wilson, August. Fences. New American Library, 1986.
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