Introduction
Zora Neale Hurston, one of the most prominent African American writers of the Harlem Renaissance, has left an indelible mark on the literary world with her evocative depiction of the African American females’ experience. In her autobiographical essay “How It Feels to Be Colored Me,” Hurston candidly explores the nature of her racial identity, stating, “I do not belong to the sobbing school of Negrohood who hold that nature somehow has given them a lowdown dirty deal,” and this view is reflected in her short stories (para. 6). From this perspective, this Hurston’s essay serves as a lens to analyze her short stories, such as “Sweat” and “The Gilded Six-Bits,” which delve into the themes of identity, racial consciousness, and humanity.
“Sweat”
“Sweat” chronicles the life of Delia, a hardworking African American washerwoman trapped in an abusive marriage. Hurston’s portrayal of Delia mirrors her sentiments in “How It Feels to Be Colored Me,” where the author refuses to be victimized due to her race. Delia stops being victimized by her abusive husband, asserting, “Ah been married to you fur fifteen years, and Ah been takin’ in washin’ fur fifteen years. Sweat, sweat, sweat! Work and sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat!” (Hurston 27). Through Delia’s words and actions, Hurston challenges the societal norms of the time, emphasizing that a woman’s worth is not defined by her circumstances but by her resilience and determination.
“The Gilded Six-Bits”
Furthermore, in “The Gilded Six-Bits,” Hurston explores the themes of love and betrayal through the story of a young African American couple, Missie May and Joe. Their seemingly perfect life shatters when Missie May betrays Joe for a counterfeit gold coin. However, Hurston uses this narrative to illustrate the complexity of human emotions and relationships. She writes, “Missie knew why she didn’t leave Joe. She couldn’t. She loved him too much, but she could not understand why Joe didn’t leave her” (Hurston 3). This echoes her ideas about the complexity of human nature in “How It Feels to Be Colored Me.”
Comparison
Both “Sweat” and “The Gilded Six-Bits” tend to reflect Hurston’s unique perspective on the relationships between people and their complex feelings. She presents her characters as individuals with unique experiences, not defined solely by race. This position is also evident in the autobiographical essay, where she famously declares, “I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes” (Hurston para. 6).
Like herself, Hurston’s characters are not victims of their circumstances but active architects of their own lives, navigating through their trials with resilience and a deep-seated sense of self. Hurston also states, “I belong to no race nor time” (para. 14). Thus, in their life journeys, African Americans experience various feelings as representatives of any other race; they act, live, and feel just like humans.
Conclusion
Zora Neale Hurston’s short stories, when viewed through the prism of her essay “How It Feels to Be Colored Me,” reveal her distinctive perspective on identity, race, and human relations and emotions. Much like herself, her characters refuse to be defined by societal norms, racial stereotypes, or their circumstances. Instead, they navigate their trials with resilience, determination, and an unwavering sense of self. Hurston’s work serves as a powerful testament to her belief that one’s race or circumstances do not determine one’s worth, but rather one’s resilience and one’s ability to shape one’s own destiny.
Works Cited
Hurston, Zora Neale. “How It Feels to Be Colored Me.” Documents. Web.
—. Sweat. Rutgers University Press, 1997.
—. The Gilded Six-Bits. Redpath Press, 1986.