Essay on Black Readers of Their Eyes Were Watching God :: Their Eyes Were Watching God Essays

The Enraged Black Readers of Their Eyes Were Watching God Although Hurstons new(a) Their Eyes Were Watching God is a astray read novel today, that wasnt always the case. When her novel was first published, many black readers were enraged. It wasnt until the early seventies when Hurstons novel was rediscovered. What aspects of the novel enraged the readers so that it would be disregarded for more than thirty years? One of the most important aspects of the novel that enraged the black readers was Hurstons portrayal of the clean-living people. Readers complained that Hurston wasnt harsh enough in her followup of the white peoples treatment towards the black people. Rather than portraying whites as the stereotypical Simon Legree of Uncle Toms Cabin-the ideal poor, racist white trash-most whites that take part in the novel atomic number 18 contrarily very helpful towards the blacks and show great compassion towards them as well. For example, when Janie begins her story we meet the Washburns. These are the white folks for whom Nanny worked for and they are very helpful towards both Nanny and Janie by treating them as if they are part of the family. Contrary to a lot of whites at the time who treated blacks as if they were still slaves, the Washburns treat both Nanny and Janie as human beings rather than slaves, showing great respect and love. In a way they are represent as angels who truly believe in human equality and dont have one bit of prejudice in them. Mah grandma raised me. Mah grandma and de white folks she worked wid...They was quality white folks up dere in West Florida. Named Washburn. She had four granchillun on de place and all of us played together... (8). Furthermore, by nurture Hurstons novel, one can clearly see that all blacks place the whites on a pedestal of knowledge. According to the blacks of the novel, whites know everything and are always right they are superior and since blacks are supposed to be ignorant and stupid, they sho uld believe and do everything the whites say. For example, Mrs. Turner states that she trusts only white doctors because black doctors arent as educated and skilled as the white doctors. Dont bring me no nigger doctor tuh hang over mah sick-bed...White doctors always gits mah money (135-136). Another example is when the Indians are evacuating the muck because they foresee a big hurricane coming and the blacks dont evacuate stating that since the whites arent evacuating theres no reason to.