The Breedlove Family

“Time begins the healing process of wounds cut deeply by oppression. We soothe ourselves with the salve of attempted indifference, accepting the false pattern set up by the horrible restriction of Jim Crow laws” - Rosa Parks. African Americans lived under these laws, and were discriminated against by their color and were told whites are better. They couldn’t go against these white people since they were powerless and weak like the Breedlove family in the Bluest Eye. African American families such as the Breedlove family have accepted the idea of white supremacy which makes them feel useless. As a result, they often accept that lighter people in their own race are better. The Breedlove family are poor black people that are looked down on
Pecola whom no one notices and sits all alone in the back of her classroom since she is black. However the new girl is lighter and favored by everyone the teachers and the students both white and black whom don't bother but respect her. “When teachers called at her, they smiled encouragingly. Black boys didn't trip her in the halls; white boys didn't stone her, white girls didn't suck their teeth when she was assigned to be work partners…”(62). Maureen Peal who is respected and treated fairly however black girls would get tripped on the halls, and teachers won't pay attention to them like Pecola but in Maureen’s case it's different. This reveals the power of colorism that people believe that being lighter is an advantage over darker people since it began with the whites whom believe they are superior. Colorism is an issue within one's race, the discrimination within a minority group discriminating darker skin people. It's unfair Maureen gets fair treatment than Pecola who is just a girl that would be scared all her life. Not only being rejected and not loved by family, but hate herself for being black hate everyone who is black since it's so bad for everyone else. Colorism confuses people and brings someone's self esteem down, it hurts even more when it's with your own people classifying each other judging one's skin color thinking he/she is not
She is protective of her son Junior only to keep him clean, to look decent and to not hang out with the black kids. Junior wants to play and hang out with two black boys he looks up to; Bay boy and P.L but because of his mom he begins to think they are bad for him. “Bay boy and P.L had at one time been idols. Gradually he came to agree with his mother that neither Bay boy nor P.L was good enough for him”(87). Geraldine demonstrates the definition of colorism because she is a lighter black women who discriminates the darker boys. Colorism can influence others such as Junior who began to believe what his mom been telling him that the black boys are dirty and are not well behaved and talked dirty. By the way Geraldine was not good herself, she taught her son how to be mean towards black girls and hate them when she cussed at Pecola. Because Junior wasn't allowed to play with the black boys he messed with the girls since there is no on else to bother or play with. Junior brings pecola in his house and he blames her for killing his mom's cat which she cherishes more than her son and tells Pecola to leave her house. “Get out, she said, her voice quiet. “You nasty little black bitch. Get out of my house”(92). Not only does Pecola have the world over her, invisible by her family, she has her own people throwing words that pierce her heart. Either words hurt or console. In this case hurt. Pecola isn't safe anywhere not in