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There is one primordial reason why we do not doubt Europeans have taken the
lead in history, in all epochs before and after 1492, and it has little to do
with evidence. It is a basic belief which we inherit from prior ages of
thought and scarcely realize that we hold: it is an implicit belief, not an
explicit one, and it is so large a theory that it is woven into all of our
ideas about history, both within Europe and without. . . (Blaut pg. 6-7).
African-American people have had to climb over many obstacles to get to their
position today. First, was the selling of their people into slavery. Then,
they endured slavery itself, being treated like an animal. After slavery was
abolished, Colored people still had to deal with racial discrimination and
hatred. If this sounds rough, black women had it worse. African-American women
had to deal with all the previously mentioned things, but they were women too!
Females were oppressed almost as bad as the blacks. White women were not able
to vote until the 1920. Therefore colored women had a double edged sword, they
had to fight for freedom, but not be to dominate as to effect the men. Alice
Walker's The Color Purple is a good example of colored women's plight. Three
obstacles black women had to overcome to be able to express themselves were
Racism, the lack of education, and the stereo-type that women are inferior.
African-Americans have always experienced racism throughout their habitation
in America. Slavery, is what caused most of the hatred towards blacks. African
Americans were sold by their people and sent off to a foreign land. Colored
people were used as work horses when they entered America. "It was acceptable
for a white person to be lazy (in the South), and therefore, a white person
takes advantage of this" (Theriault). White people wanted to keep their
laziness. If the slaves were set free, then the whites would have to do more
work. The slaves still fought for what they wanted, and finally won their
"independence." Another dilemma was "if the south could abolish slavery, what
would happen to the slaves? These slaves have been slaves for all their lives
and would require education. These slaves would also require homes, some type
of compensation, and more" (Theriault). Blacks were put in prison for
rebelling against the white establishment. Most times these crimes were
minuscule in comparison to the crimes committed against blacks or by whites. A
colored person could be put in jail for looking at someone inappropriately,
but if a black man was lynched, nothing happened. "I have been locked by the
lawless. Handcuffed by the haters. Gagged by the greedy. And, if I know any
thing at all, it's that a wall is just a wall and nothing more at all. It can
be broken down" (Shakuer). This excerpt from "Affirmation" is an example of
the feelings of hatred for the Whites. However, this quotation also shows the
fight in the African-American race let alone its women. If the South could
have kept education away from the blacks. Then ides as the one above would
have never been published.
Lack of education was a way the South tried to keep the blacks in a lower
class. In The Color Purple, Celie is not allowed to go to school because she
is to be kept barefoot and pregnant. She still received an education by
learning what her little sister was teaching her, though. It was believed that
if the blacks were kept uneducated then they would not know any better and
would not fight for freedom. Unfortunately, for the South, the North was
educating their blacks. Then these blacks were coming south and starting
colleges for colored people. Booker T. Washington wrote, in his autobiography,
ONE day, while at work in the coal-mine, I happened to overhear two miners
talking about a great school for coloured people somewhere in Virginia. This
was the first time that I had ever heard anything about any kind of school or
college that was more pretentious than the little coloured school in our town.
In the darkness of the mine I noiselessly crept as close as I could to the two
men who were talking. I heard one tell the other that not only was the school
established for the members of any race, but the opportunities that it
provided by which poor but worthy students could work out all or a part of the
cost of a board, and at the same time be taught some trade or industry.
Thus the education had begun. Most coloreds were not able to read or write
because they were never exposed to an education. Black women again had it
worse because they were women. Women were believed to be weak and incompetent
in comparison with men. This has since been disproved, but it was the practice
in those days. In The Color Purple, Harpo, Mr. marries an independent Black
woman. Sophia is bigger than Harpo and does not really do what he says. When
Harpo beats Sophia to "make her mind," she beats him. The idea that a man has
to beat a woman follows right along with the stereo-type that women are
inferior.
The hackneyed image that women were inferior was basically just a myth. The
black women in the book The Color Purple did all the work. Celie would get up
to cook, clean, go out and work in the fields all day, then come back and cook
and clean some more. Sophia would work in the fields, repair the roof, and
take care of the children. The men, Mr. and Harpo, would sit and not do much.
Then if the women ever said anything they would beat them. It was not until
Shug Avery came along did Celie realize not to take men seriously. Ms. Avery
and Celie did become lesbians, but Shug taught Celie that a person has to
stand up for themselves, if they want respect. As Celie and Shug fell in love,
Celie grew as a person. She started to stand up to Mr. Celie also started to
wear pants. In doing so, she was showing her independence. In those days, men
were only supposed to be clothed in pants. Celie was showing, in a small way,
that a woman can do anything a man can. Through help from Shug, Celie started
a successful business making pants for all the relatives. This is another way
Shug helped Celie gain her independence. Women were supposed to rely on men
for everything (i.e. food, clothing, shelter, etc.). With Celie making her own
money she did not need a man. Celie and her sister Nettie also owned a house,
which was left to them by their step-father. Celie is further independent from
men. Celie found a way out by acquiring a plan. This plan was patterned after
an already independent woman, Shug. Shug got out by singing, Nettie by being a
missionary, and Celie by making pants. Any minority that is being oppressed
can learn from The Color Purple. A minority can pattern his/her assent to
greatness after someone who came from similar backgrounds. All minorities can
take this advice to heart. Stand up for what is believed. Make a difference.
African-American women have overcome quite a bit in order to get to be where
they are today. Colored women have(and are still) over coming racism, lack of
education, and the myth that women are inferior. Black women have taken care
of their children, men, land and themselves for years. The book The Color
Purple shows the previous point very well. This book teaches that if there is
a struggle, someone will overcome it. The book also teaches minorities a way
to get out of their present situation. First, the desire has to be there, then
all the minority has to do is pattern themselves after someone else who has
made it out of the ghetto. Even though this book is in the great depression ,
the lessons it teaches can still be applied in today's society. I think it is
finally time black women earn the respect they deserve. I would like to thank
Alice Walker for writing a book that has opened my eyes to the struggles of
African-American women. I never knew that they had to over come so much in
their community let alone the rest of the world.
English Essays
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