The Last Impressions Of Slavery Analysis

Tadese, Hyunh, Gutierrez, Hudson 1

Kalkidan Tadese, Taylor Hudson, Valerie Gutierrez, Daniel Hyunh
Mrs. Maxon
English 11 H
30 April 2015
The Lasting Impressions of Slavery
Graphic: The image of the brown mule in a black dress is a representation of society perception of the African American race. The mule being imperfect in its mixed, black condition and the black dress a match in encapturing the grievances that will forever plague the African American community. 1. “De (n word) woman is de mule uh de world” (Hurston 14). Explanation: This is a reference to how women are slaves to their husbands, carrying the heavy load in the marriage, and treated like property. Janie was forced into her first marriage by her grandmother without being able to express her own opinion. Her first husband, Logan Killicks,
Her second husband, Joe Starks, confined her into the store, where she was to remain silent and obey all of his commands.
2. “Ah don’t know nothin’ but what Ah’m told tuh do, ‘cause Ah aint nothin’ but a (n­word) and uh slave” (Hurston 17).
 Explanation: This is when Nanny is speaking to Janie about her past life when she was a slave to the white people. She explains how she didn’t know anything other than what she was told to do because she of her race and upbringing. Nanny never had the opportunity to marry someone who could support her and doesn’t want the same situation to happen to Janie. However this is ironic

Tadese, Hyunh, Gutierrez, Hudson 2

because Nanny believes she is helping Janie by placing her into an arranged marriage, when
Maybe they would pass on by. Maybe when they saw he had money they would realize he was not a tramp” (Hurston 141).
Explanation: Janie’s influence is evident through free­spirited, courageous Tea Cake’s psychological shift. After the eventful tragedy, the hurricane sweeping through the muck, destroying everything in its wake, Tea Cake begins to exhibit symptoms. Becoming paranoid,
Tea Cake depends on Janie and begins to accept society’s oppression, succumbing to the fear and suspicion that it brings. With these thoughts filling his mind, Tea Cake sprints off to escape the
“two white men,” only to be inevitably captured.
6. “Got orders from headquarters. They makin’ coffins fuh all de white folks. Don’t dump no white folks in de hole jus’ so.”
“Whut tuh do ’bout de colored folks? Got boxes fuh dem too? Nope” (Hurston 143).
Explanation: This small conversation between the white “masters” and the black “slaves” reveals the lasting effects of slavery. “Explaining” to the ditch­digging black “volunteers” their worth is inferior to the whites even after death was a pivotal moment. With the extent of the small conversation, the blacks are told to abide by society's “rules,” separating themselves for