Examples Of Racism In Their Eyes Were Watching God

Despite its references to race, racism is not the central theme of Their Eyes Were Watching God. Instead, Hurston weaves race and racism into the society and culture in which Janie lives, but chooses to focus more on Janie's life experiences as a human being than as a black woman. In some ways, by not exclusively or directly focusing on race, the novel can portray race and racism in the American South in the early 20th century with great complexity.

Janie's unusual and beautiful appearance as a fair-skinned black woman living in the black American South sparks attention from the various communities she encounters throughout the novel, some of which are marked by racist attitudes. For instance, the character of Mrs. Turner presents a highly