Racism in The Bluest Eye

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Recommended: Bring out the theme of racism as seen in Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye

Racism in The Bluest Eye

"There is really nothing more to say--except why.

But since why is difficult to handle, one must take

refuge in how."

When bad things happen to us, the first thing we

ask ourselves is "why"? Most of the time however, the

answer to "why" is not readily available to us, and

sometimes there is not an answer at all. Racism has

been a concept which has existed from the beginning of

human civilization. For some reason, the "whites"

believed they were superior to everyone who was not

white for a very long time. There has always been a

misconception that racism exists strictly against blacks

from whites. However, Morrison shows the reader every

aspect of racism: whites against blacks, light-skinned

blacks against dark-skinned blacks and blacks who are

well off against poor blacks. The latter two are the

most emphasized and the most prevalent in the novel. In

July's People, we see the other side of racism,the

opression of whites.

There are many answers to the question "why?" in

this novel. There is not just one answer to which it

all can be narrowed down or traced back. Morrison

attempts to show the reader various catalysts which

explain (or can explain) HOW racism affected the

characters' lives. Often, there is really not an answer

to "why?", although at times, the reader may come across

to one of the many answers to this question.

In the beginning of the book, the reader sees how

the blonde-blue-eyed white girl (woman) has always been

the conceptualized ideal. Morrison does not (and

cannot) tell us why this is and has been from the

beginning of time. However, she shows the reader how it

is and to the extent it affects (and has affected)

anyone who does ...

... middle of paper ...

...e flawless, as Maureen

herself (according to the narrator). Claudia says that

Maureen is not their enemy, their enemy is what makes

Maureen cute and the rest of them ugly, that "thing"

that makes her cute.

Although racism is not the main catalyst to

everything bad that happens throughout the novel (it is

more deep-rooted issues in society), plays a key role in

the development of the characters as individuals, as

well as society as a whole. Morrison excels in

describing racism as one of the many issues which can

ruin a person's self-identity and confidence. Although

she, like anyone else, cannot explain and does not have

an answer as to "why" racism exists, she describes in

detail how it (along with other related factors) can

bring about an individual's self-distruction.

Bibliography:

Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye.

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