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Racism In Mama Day Cocoa

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Racism is a background that is constant in this society. In our country the most prevalent cultures we identify with when discussing racism are African-Americans and whites. Before discussing racism between blacks and whites, one must be informed about the ideology behind racism in the United States. In this nation racial identity makes a difference because it matters. What began as an economic and political strategy, enforced by legal code, evoked social and moral superiority and inferiority. This implies that race matters for all people in America; not just for blacks. It mirrors the first racial twofold of this country: white and non-white. Everything streams from the first need to learn and lawfully characterize who is non-white. This is particularly imperative to see today in the light of the …show more content…

During the 20th century pmany blacks masked how they felt about their race. Slavery and racism are both creators of this. Due to the way blacks were treated, many were ashamed, and for those who were proud of their culture were not allowed to express it during slavery. Masking and hiding their true feelings is how majority of Africans survived slavery and racism after slavery was abolished. In Mama Day Cocoa continued reference to people as food reveals how she has been treated. Cocoa refers to people as food when she calls Asians “kumquats” and Puerto Ricans “Taco”. These terms are racist and Cocoa uses them as prejudice against others races. In “The Color Purple”, Walker displays the racism that black women in the south endured, such as when Harpo’s wife, Sofia, gets asked to clean a house by the white mayor’s wife. The mayor slaps Sophia because she did not do it. Celie believes herself to be ugly in part because of her very dark skin. She also acts accordingly and mask how she feels about racism and her life unlike Sophia. Clearly during this time period, showing how you truly feel can be

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