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Zora Neale Hurston.edited

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Writing

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College of Central Florida

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Zora Neale Hurston

“How It Feels to Be Colored Me” is among Zora Neale Hurston’s famous

writing based during the era when the African-Americans were experiencing widespread

racial discrimination from the main aspects of life that surrounded her as a colored person

(Hurston). Individual and education, financial, and political institutions contributed

significantly to the writer’s experience. The writer’s work addresses an observed trend or

preference of African-Americans minimizing their racial identities to manage to escape from

such discriminating events and treatments or force respect as fellow citizens. More emphasis

is put on the fact that it has become a norm for Black individuals to declare their diverse

ancestry, which contributes to the level of how malleable and vague racial identity can be

perceived. However, Hurston chooses not to run away but to embrace her African-American

identity.

Hurston explains the significance of accepting and acting culturally correct by

arguing that race is a biological or significant individual characteristic. Her work helps us

understand race as more of a matter of changing perspectives concerning social reinforcement

by stating that she remembers the first day she was declared colored, which happened when

she was thirteen. Therefore, she did not feel different or colored until people decided to make

her feel that way. The same experience can be observed in this current era where slogans such

as Black Lives Matters have to be formulated to remind the society of the significance and the

contributions of people of color in the community. Therefore, Hurston’s writing speaks

voluminous and can be related to the recent racial events.

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Race and difference is the leading theme in the essay “How It Feels to Be

Colored Me,” Hurston argues that race should not be considered an essential feature born

within an individual; instead, it emerges and becomes recognized in particular social contexts.

The writer introduces this ideology by describing her experience of how others perceived her

identity at the age of thirteen. She reveals excellent comparison skills, which is considered a

significant writing style when addressing or narrating an event. Performance is another central

theme in this particular essay, and it exposed the writer’s interests in singing, dancing, and

making a show for a white audience. Thus, revealing her personal journey and connecting

with the audience is a crucial writing technique.

Literature and writing are best used to identify, analyze and provide an extensive

explanation for the audience to obtain an in-depth understanding of the writer's history and

opportunities. Hurston’s essay reflected the history and long struggle of the African-American

community from slavery. The description of her experience reveals the immense journey

against racial discrimination and the opportunities that may have been mishandled or deprived

of her due to her race and skin color (Etinde-Crompton, Charlotte & Samuel). All these

lessons and experiences can be related to the current events and era where racial

discrimination remains a horrific experience and sensitive topic to address.

“The Gilded SixBits” is yet another story by Zora Neale Hurston addressing

unique events that occur in the house of a married couple, Joe and Missie, who live in central

Florida (Hurston). The writer reveals the challenges experienced by the duo and presents the

situations from a context that can be understood and related with by ordinary married people.

Based on the current trends, numerous divorces are reported to occur due to infidelity, which

forces couples to separate, which is the main idea addressed by Hurston. The story's positive

aspect is that the husband decides to forgive his wife and accept that she conducted all the acts

for the family to survive and have money to live. This is a reflection of the vast sacrifices

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Surname 1 Student’s Name: Professor: Course: Date: Zora Neale Hurston “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” is among Zora Neale Hurston’s famous writing based during the era when the African-Americans were experiencing widespread racial discrimination from the main aspects of life that surrounded her as a colored person (Hurston). Individual and education, financial, and political institutions contributed significantly to the writer’s experience. The writer’s work addresses an observed trend or preference of African-Americans minimizing their racial identities to manage to escape from such discriminating events and treatments or force respect as fellow citizens. More emphasis is put on the fact that it has become a norm for Black individuals to declare their diverse ancestry, which contributes to the level of how malleable and vague racial identity can be perceived. However, Hurston chooses not to run away but to embrace her African-American identity. Hurston explains the significance of accepting and acting culturally correct by arguing that race is a biological or significant individual characteristic. Her work helps us understand race as more of a matter of changing perspectives concerning social reinforcement by stating that she remembers the first day she was declared colored, which happened when she was thirteen. Therefore, she did not feel different or colored until people decided to make her feel that way. The same experience can be observed in this current era ...
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Tags: Zora Neale Hurston famous writing the African Americans widespread racial discrimination financial and political institutions discriminating events and treatments