Racism And Discrimination On African Americans - 1210 Words

Extremely similar to her use of characters, Morrison also expresses the impact of racism and discrimination on African Americans through her frequent use of symbolism.2 In The Bluest Eye, an extremely important symbol is blue eyes (Crayton 73). Blue eyes are used to symbolize racially based beauty standards and the power associated with whiteness (â€Å"Bluest† LitCharts). In the novel, society believes that if a person does not have white skin, he or she is not beautiful. Pecola Breedlove falls victim to this widespread belief and longs to possess blue eyes. In her world, blue eyes are far more than a simple eye color. They are beauty. They are power. They are whiteness. They are the end to all of her problems. To Pecola, having blue eyes would rid her of her ugliness and painful life. The symbolism found in blue eyes also reveals the considerable amount of sadness that Pecola feels. Her desire to have the bluest eyes is symbolic of the fact that Pecola has the saddest eyes, and the saddest life, of any other character in the novel (â€Å"Bluest† Shmoop). Likewise, the importance and descriptions of the characters’ homes within the novel also illustrates the impact of racial discrimination on African Americans. Each home described in the novel serves a greater purpose than simply being a place to live (Crayton 12). Homes symbolize the psychological health of the characters who live within it and the situations that caused them to be in that particular mental and emotional stateShow MoreRelatedRacism, Discrimination, And Segregation Against African Americans3220 Words   |  13 PagesOctober 2014 Racism, Discrimination, and Segregation against African Americans in the United States Perhaps one of the most well-known and prominent forms of racism and discrimination existing in American society is that perpetrated against African Americans. 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