While Hurston states that Janie’s husband Joe showcases her so that “nobody else’s wife [would] rank her,” it is Joe who does not want to be outranked (41). Joe uses the notion that whiter African Americans are more superior than those who are darker to his advantage. He understands that being married to a biracial woman and showcasing her in white clothing will exert his dominance over the townspeople because he will seem more white himself. Additionally, the black townswomen try to mimic white culture to receive attention like Janie does. A woman named Daisy is described as “the piece of string out of a ham” because although she is black, she wears white clothes. Therefore she is “not ham at all..but [has] the flavor” (Hurston 68). Daisy is able to attract the townsmen through her use of playing “dress up” as a white woman. This concept in which lighter skinned African Americans are more desirable because they are closer to being white continues throughout the entire
While Hurston states that Janie’s husband Joe showcases her so that “nobody else’s wife [would] rank her,” it is Joe who does not want to be outranked (41). Joe uses the notion that whiter African Americans are more superior than those who are darker to his advantage. He understands that being married to a biracial woman and showcasing her in white clothing will exert his dominance over the townspeople because he will seem more white himself. Additionally, the black townswomen try to mimic white culture to receive attention like Janie does. A woman named Daisy is described as “the piece of string out of a ham” because although she is black, she wears white clothes. Therefore she is “not ham at all..but [has] the flavor” (Hurston 68). Daisy is able to attract the townsmen through her use of playing “dress up” as a white woman. This concept in which lighter skinned African Americans are more desirable because they are closer to being white continues throughout the entire