Introduction
The topic of racial discrimination and oppression is not new in the literature. Many authors use it to draw readers’ attention to urgent problems in society. Moreover, thanks to their works, writers can convey their attitude to the matter of concern and contribute to its formation in readers.
Examining the Portrayal of Racism in Elegy of Color Poem
One example of literature where the author’s position is expressed through complex metaphors and comparisons is the poem Elegy of Color by Kate Hanson Foster. In this poem, the author places great emphasis on the colors that are in the world around her. Moreover, these colors are very contrasting, and brown and black stand out against the lighter colors “white house, paper whites in the weak western light” (Foster 34). This technique helps to further focus on what society rejects and discriminates.
However, it is worth noting that the author deliberately notes that the Bible is also black. Perhaps in this way, Foster tried to portray that God does not care about the color of a person’s skin, which means that people should not perceive it as wrong. Finally, the heroine of the poem says she is colorless, “like water my mother bought from the church” (Foster 34). In this way, the author denies the difference between people of color and whites and, therefore, the concept of racism in general.
Exploring Fences by August Wilson and His Intricate Look at Racism
At the center of the play, August Wilson Fences, lies the idea of how a person cannot build his future because of the fear of the past. The play’s main character is Troy, a black man who works hard to provide for his family (Wilson). In the past, he played baseball and wanted to connect his professional activities with it. However, he was not accepted into the Major League due to the color of his skin. Thus, Wilson focuses “on the impact of historical patterns, cultural aspects of the African Americans and customs of ethnic segregation on the fatalities of his drama” (Hasan 5). Moreover, disadvantaged because of the color of his skin, Troy is not angry at the society that discriminates against him but at his racial identity.
Moreover, racism in the play becomes a source of conflict between father and son. Troy’s son, Cory, is interested in football and wants to become a professional football player. However, due to his own experience, Troy forbids Cory from playing football. Thus, the author shows how racial discrimination leads to much deeper problems than those that can be noticed initially. It generates inequality and injustice in society and destroys families and the future.
Uncovering Zora Neale Hurston’s Sweat and How It Examines Racial Tensions
The main character of Zora Neale Hurston’s Sweat, Delia Jones, is a black woman forced to fight against racial and gender oppression. Delia works “as a wash-woman for the whites, sacrificing her sweat and blood” (Chakour 87). In this way, Hurston shows how hard people of color have to work to satisfy their basic needs. At the same time, “Work and sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat!” (Hurston 2) becomes a kind of slogan for all colored people. Emphasizing that any actions of black people imply hard work and torment.
Moreover, the racial discrimination of the story’s main character is reinforced by her abusive husband. Sykes’s attitude to Delia is “is covered in rudeness, cruelty, and mocks besides having another woman” (Asmarani 5). Hurston shows that black women succumb to oppression not only in society but also in their community. Furthermore, even after the death of her husband, Delia cannot be completely free (Hurston). She still has to work hard and ‘sweat’ to have at least some value for society.
Conclusion
Thus, the theme of racial discrimination is often found in the literary works of various authors. Moreover, this topic is relevant for both African American and white writers. However, different authors portray racism in different ways. Some use metaphors, like Foster, forcing the reader to interpret what is written on their own. Others depict real manifestations of racism that people of color face, amplifying the effect of other circumstances.
Works Cited
Asmarani, Ratna. “The Portrayal of a Black Woman‟s Perseverance in Zora Neale Hurston’s Short Story Entitled Sweat.” Journal of Language and Literature, vol. 13, no. 1, 2018, pp. 1-6. Web.
Chakour, Khaoula. “Racial Politics in Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat”, Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif”, and James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”.” Studies in Literature and Language, vol. 17, no. 1, 2018, pp. 86-90. Web.
Hasan, Hadi Ali. “The Culture Heritage Protection: Suggestive Themes and Views of August Wilson’s Fences.” Litinfinite, vol. 4, no. 1, 2022, pp. 1-12. Web.
Hurston, Zora Neale. Sweat. Rutgers University Press, 1926.
Foster, Kate Hanson. Elegy of Color. Compact Bedford, 12th ed., 2019, p. 34.
Wilson, August. Fences. New American Library, 1986.