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What Is The Central Idea Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

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In Zora Neale Hurston’s short story “Sweat” and her essay “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” the African American social group is being represented in many ways.The texts have similar ways that African Americans are represented for the time period. The African Americans or “colored people” are represented in an aspect that comes from the author's point of view. The African Americans are represented as being unbothered, growing up in a closed community, playing the game with whites, and optimistic. First, in “How It Feels to Be Colored Me,” there are many instances where Hurston refers to herself as being unbothered or not caring about being an African American. When writing about the craziness in her life, Hurson states,” No, I do not weep at the world-I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife” (65). Hurston states that she has no time be bothered by all the craziness that comes with being colored but she is ready to take on the world and experience the world. …show more content…

Throughout the text, Hurston infers that she's optimistic about being colored. “How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company”(67)? Hurston writes that she feels discriminated against but also feels how could anyone not want to be in her presence therefor She feels optimistic about the future. Hurston recalls that “Slavery is sixty years in the past” (65). Hurston refers to slavery as an old time and gives the impression that it is time to move on. “the world to be won and nothing to be lost” (65). Hurst feels that even though her ancestors were brought over by force by the white man, she has a greater chance to make something out of her ancestors slave past. Hurston has a greater chance for glory and nothing is to be lost because she content with herself. Hurston infers that with the discrimination of being an African American, the chance that she has gotten should not be wasted so she should be

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