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Their Eyes Were Watching God Leafy

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In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Nanny, Leafy, and Janie were affected by sexual abuse which was very common during those times. Nanny lived in an environment that institutionalizes violence and rape of African American Women. Sexual and mental abuse were a domino effect that trickled down from Nanny to Janie. Nanny was repeatedly raped by her master Roberts, who impregnated her with Leafy. Nanny and leafy’s relationship was not close at all; for Leafy decided to leave town and abandon Nanny and her daughter Janie (Hurston, 1990). Leafy was raped by a white teacher who hid her in the woods. Forcible violations positively affected Leafy; for, she ran away and turned to a life of alcohol to suppress the pain of being sexually victimized.

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