How It Feels To Be Colored Me, By Langston Hughes

The memoir “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” by Zora Neale Hurston, was first published in 1928, and recounts the situation of racial discrimination and prejudice at the time in the United States. The author was born into an all-black community, but was later sent to a boarding school in Jacksonville, where she experienced “race” for the first time. Hurston not only informs the reader how she managed to stay true to herself and her race, but also inspires the reader to abandon any form of racism in their life. Especially by including Humor, Imagery, and Metaphors, the author makes her message very clear: Everyone is equal.

The Harlem Renaissance was a time of revival and awakening in which the African American community produced a new form of cultural identity. After years of oppression and slavery, African Americans struggled to discover their own distinctive culture. It was through the literature and artistry of the Harlem Renaissance that the African American community began to express the suffering and resentment they truly experienced. In addition, the movement allowed them to find a way to escape their hardships. James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” and Langston Hughes’ “The Weary Blues” address the addiction, poverty, and violence that surrounded African Americans and the triumph of life that was captured in their attempt to escape the suffering.

Even though both Hurston and Hughes grew up around the same time period, they had very different ideals regarding their experience as African American’s as well as a different voice used within their works to convey their ideals. Hurston in her 1928 essay “How it Feels to be Colored Me” describes her childhood and coming of age with a delightful zest that cannot be contained. Although the essay does contain some dark moments such as when she describes her experience with her friend at the jazz club and the sudden realization of the racial difference between her and the other patrons, for the most part the work exudes her keen sense of dignity despite the popular opinion of the masses during that period. Lines in her essay such as “But I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes…I do not belong to the sobbing school of Negrohood who hold that nature somehow has given them a lowdown dirty deal and whose feelings are all hurt about it” (Abcarian, Klotz, and Cohen 812) beautifully express her sense of self dignity and refusal to give in to the negative energies surrounding her race. Despite the many hardships that the color of her skin caused her she was proud and determined to never let that stand in her way of

The Harlem Renaissance was truly a golden age reflecting almost the entirety of life experienced by African Americans during the early twentieth century. Not only was it a rebirth of African American culture, but the literature from the renaissance period had truly influenced and inspired numerous modern writers such as Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker. Langston Hughes and Alain Locke’s works are both still influencing and are witnessed in post-renaissance and modern culture and society. It is said that Martin Luther King had been influenced by Langston Hughes when giving his “I Have A Dream” speech since the speech seemed to correspond with Langston Hughes’ poem “Let America be America Again.” Even after the movement had ended,

According to Hurston's view personal identity is more important than race. She says that “But I am not tragically colored.” This proves that Hurston believes that being African American and discriminated does not matter, she knows her capability and if she wants to do something, then she will do it. In the paragraph of the text she describes two different types of African American the ones that feel sorry for themselves about being colored “the sobbing school of Negrohood” and the ones that being colored is not an obstacle to continue their lives. Hurston' personal identity is well distinguished when she expressed “No, I do not weep at the world--I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.” This quote shows that Hurston does not care about discrimination

The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement in the 1920s that led to the evolution of African-American culture, expression through art, music, and literary works, and the establishment of African roots in America. Zora Neale Hurston contributed to the Harlem Renaissance with her original and enticing stories. However, Hurston’s works are notorious (specifically How it Feels to Be Colored Me and Their Eyes Were Watching God) because they illustrate the author’s view of black women and demonstrate the differences between their views and from earlier literary works.

The two poems “White Lies” by Natasha Trethewey and “Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes were written to express racial dilemmas that the authors went through. Thematically, they represent the American Dream. In “White Lies” we see that Trethewey went through some racial identity issues. She felt as if she had to lie to blend in with the rest of the whites, which was easy for her because she was mixed. To understand the full meaning of this poem, one assumes that Trethewey was the product of an interracial marriage. This type of thing was frowned upon during the time she grew up. In the poem “Theme for English B” Hughes seems to accept the fact that he is different. Hughes does not seem to have a problem with expressing his difference. He looks at as his individuality and strives to let everyone know that he is proud of who he is. The two poems have many similarities and differences.

How It Feels to be Colored Me is an essay by Zora Neale Hurston published in the World Tomorrow on May 1928. In the essay she describes her first experience with racism. The purpose of the piece is to show self-confidents and pride in her identity. She shows the reader the positives of embracing your identity and not letting society affect your true selves. Stating “I’m not ashamed to be colored.” (pg.416), meaning that no matter what anyone saying about her being black, she still has pride in herself.

In the 1920’s, African Americans went through many struggles and had a hard life. They were treated poorly and did not have as much freedom as white people. In Langston Hughes “Dreams” the tone of the poem is gloomy. He talks about how hard life is being black and without dreaming there would be no point in life. On the other hand, a memoir “How it Feels To Be Colored Me” by Zora Neale is enthusiastic and joyful.

In her essay, "How It Feels to Be Colored," Hurston focuses on three main ideas. First, she talks about her upbringing in a black community. Secondly, she discusses how she is not like people who see race as an issue. Finally, she shows how she embraces her race.

During the 1920’s a new movement began to arise. This movement known as the Harlem Renaissance expressed the new African American culture. The new African American culture was expressed through the writing of books, poetry, essays, the playing of music, and through sculptures and paintings. Three poems and their poets express the new African American culture with ease. (Jordan 848-891) The poems also express the position of themselves and other African Americans during this time. “You and Your Whole Race”, “Yet Do I Marvel”, and “The Lynching” are the three poems whose themes are the same. The poets of these poems are, as in order, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Claude Mckay.

In Hughes poem “Note on the commercial Theatre” he started off with an angry tone, upset that African American music was used by the whites, but the African Americans didn’t receive the credit for the artistic work: “You’ve taken my blues and gone you sing them on Broadway” (1043). Furthermore, at the end of the poem Hughes does expresses a powerful ending, our culture is beautiful, but you will never be me: “Black and beautiful and sing about me, and put on plays about me! I reckon it’ll be me myself” (1043)! Hughes poems focused on the urban cultures, while Zora Neale Hurston short story “How it feels to be Colored Me” focused on her as a woman who is discovering herself and her worth.

Purpose- Hurston’s purpose is to demonstrate that she is proud of her color. She does not need the bragging rights of having Native American ancestry, nor does she ‘belong to the sobbing school of Negrohood who hold that nature somehow has given them a lowdown dirty deal and whose feelings are all hurt about it.’

Last, Hughes uses imagery along with tone to reflect the main theme of his poem, “Dreams.” Most of Hughes’ poetry is written during a time of civil inequality. It is a time that looks hopeless in obtaining the American Dream. Hughes relays the message to his readers within imagery and tone, to hold strong to dreams, and never let go. For example, the writer uses a tragic imagery and tone in the first stanza, on lines three and four, when he suggests, “Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly” (3,4).

The two authors shared the message on discrimination and stereotypes, which is about race.Black is a race that has been discriminated for centuries all around the world. Hurston, who is black, also has been discriminated. For example, “Someone is always at my elbow reminding me that I am the granddaughter of slaves” (187). The important phrase Hurston uses is “my elbow reminding me”. Hurston informs the reader that someone, particularly white, always reminds her that she will always be black and always a slave in the eyes of white society. Hurston published her story in the 1920s, which was after Civil War, which was about 60 years in the past, and people still want to put down Hurston and the black race. The significance of her story is the relevance it has today. African-Americans still feel oppressed in many ways, after over 50 years of the civil right movement. Racism is worse now than the past. A poll that asks if racism is a big problem? (see fig. 1) The poll shows how big of a problem racism has become.