Zora Neale Hurston How It Feels To Be Colored Me Analysis

How It Feels to Be Colored Me

Unlike many black authors raised during the Harlem Renaissance period, Zora Neale Hurston rarely depicted blacks as victims of the oppression and racist attitudes held by white society. Instead, Hurston shows that not all blacks experience a sense of consciousness and that some are instilled with the self- independence needed to embrace one’s “blackness.” Some writers believe this view of black pride had to do with Hurston growing up in an exclusively colored town in Eatonville, Florida. With the help of various literally devices, Hurston describes her individual experiences being a colored woman in early 20th Century America, while expressing her views, despite differing from majority of the black population

in “How It Feels to Be Colored Me”.
Up until she was thirteen, the only white people Hurston had any interaction with were the ones that had passed through the town while traveling to neighboring Floridian towns.

Almost immediately, Hurston describes her early interactions with the white tourist as pleasant, sparking up conversation with anyone who would talk with her- sometimes even singing and dancing for them as they passed through. During this period, Hurston believed the only differences between white people and colored were that they “rode through town and never lived there.” Hurston then goes on to explain how the “Northerners” in town reacted to the whites passing through, “Peering cautiously behind curtains by the timid.” (Hurston 538 ). This comparison of actions between the native blacks in town and other blacks who migrated there, help the reader understand what Hurston experienced growing up and how these early experiences differed from the lives of many other African

Americans.
Hurston first experienced change when she grew older and was sent to school in Jacksonville, Florida.

This change was the first-time Zora was exposed to race, stating that she “has suffered a sea change. In my heart as well as the mirror, I became a fast brown.” (Hurston 539). Unlike anything she had ever experienced growing up, she was suddenly surrounded by black peers who were constantly reminding her that she is “the grand- daughter of slaves”. While other black people looked at slavery as a reason to weep, Hurston saw slavery as a price that was paid for civilization, and the choice was not hers. Feeling discriminated against did not make Hurston angry, as she was more in shock that they didn’t desire the pleasure of her company. This light- heartedness personality that Hurston represented was a determining factor on how she was going to live her life. Despite majority of African Americans thinking differently, Hurston remained positive about her race and did not let her color define who she is as a human being. At times Hurston also makes references to the universe, showing that she is more than just the color of her skin. “The cosmic Zora emerges. I belong to no race nor time, I am the eternal feminine with its string of beads.” (Hurston 539). This sentence is a powerful symbol, illustrating the connection with your soul and identity. Hurston is not simply a black person in a sea of whites, rather she is she is an empowering American woman just like all the

others.
The last part of this essay is where Hurston uses colored bags to show symbolism and convince the readers that people of all kind are essentially the same. “Pour out the contents, and there is discovered a jumble of small things priceless and worthless. (Hurston 540). She then proceeds to name each item found in the bags. Hurston describes these objects with unembellished, short adjectives- showing insight into the nature of these items. One thing these objects all have in common is the fact that each item is considered useless by its brokenness, or by the fact it has already been used and has nothing more to offer. Though these items may hold minimal significance, the similarity between them indicates a shared human spirit. She states the term “against a wall” while referring to the bags, which suggests a lack of movement or forced state that limits movement in any direction. Hurston was referring to the lack of people willing to moving forward as one nation, rather they were limiting themselves by the events of the past (slavery). Lastly, Hurston assures the reader that no matter the color of the bag, the contents in each are essentially similar- meaning the world must move forward and view each person as equal, while maintaining their own unique individually.
As shown through vivid imagery and symbolism, Hurston utilizes numerous techniques to instill readers her distinctive impression of herself and how she views the world. While it could be argued that Hurston’s upbringing partook in the way she viewed racial issues, she uses the knowledge of her native community and its people to express her stories and convey her point of view, despite being very controversial during this time.