Rags or Riches
Two different cultures who are on the chase for self-righteousness and conformity, African American and Latino/Hispanic’s have suffered throughout history trying to find their place in American culture. Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Richard Rodriguez in his narrative Hunger of Memory describe the hardships they undergo to assimilate and conform. Although a common theme of self-loathing is seen throughout both of the text, the road to assimilation and conformity is extraordinarily different from the two characters. Morrison 's fictional lead, Pecola is the scapegoat of the community. She struggles with finding true her identity due to the color of her skin. She ends up losing herself by going crazy believing she was granted …show more content…
Being the scapegoat of her society, Pecola is unable to conform due to her physical characteristics. No matter how hard she’s unable to assimilate in the way she and society favors. A prominent theme of the novel is the conception of race and beauty. All of the white characters in the novel are glorified and viewed as pure and beautiful, whereas the blacks are seen as dirty and associated with ugliness. People in her society never let her forget when she is taunted and picked on at school, “And you ugly! Black and ugly black e mos. I am cute!” (Morrison 75). Pecola’s battle with society led to her downfall with racial assimilation in addition to her lack of confidence. Morrison says, “It had occurred to Pecola some time ago that if her eyes...were different, that is to say, beautiful, she herself would be different."(Morrison --). This suggests that Pecola not only would find success in assimilating but also her psychological state of being would be well off. Moreover, this outlines the differences between the assimilation that Pecola and Rodriguez seek to lead the contrast of their outcomes. Although Rodriguez has a slight issue with his complexion, it does not hinder his success in cultural assimilation. Pecola’s struggles with skin color and lack of confidence are the results of her failure in racial …show more content…
In opposition to Morrison’s view’s about African American culture, black is beautiful in today’s society. The Art industries have become more culturally diverse, many African Americans have been leads in huge selling films, walking down the finest fashion runways and becoming number one hits on the radio. Although many of the female characters in Morrison’s novel aspired to look like Shirley Temple and actress Betty Grable, in today’s society people from white culture are trying to mimic styles of African Americans artist through cultural appropriation. Often more than not it is seen within the music industry. Artist of white decent like Katy Perry, Iggy Azalea and Eminem have all borrowed from stereotypical black culture. It is exhibited with the use of fashion styles, hair styles, body shapes as well as in their musical artistry. However like Pecola 's struggle with society, not everyone seems to agree with what these artists are doing. Their cultural appropriation has led them to lose pieces of their personal identity through the bashing from society through media. Although Pecola could not during her time period racially assimilate with the advancement of the time period people are able to alter their bodies to look like whom they
Two different cultures who are on the chase for self-righteousness and conformity, African American and Latino/Hispanic’s have suffered throughout history trying to find their place in American culture. Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Richard Rodriguez in his narrative Hunger of Memory describe the hardships they undergo to assimilate and conform. Although a common theme of self-loathing is seen throughout both of the text, the road to assimilation and conformity is extraordinarily different from the two characters. Morrison 's fictional lead, Pecola is the scapegoat of the community. She struggles with finding true her identity due to the color of her skin. She ends up losing herself by going crazy believing she was granted …show more content…
Being the scapegoat of her society, Pecola is unable to conform due to her physical characteristics. No matter how hard she’s unable to assimilate in the way she and society favors. A prominent theme of the novel is the conception of race and beauty. All of the white characters in the novel are glorified and viewed as pure and beautiful, whereas the blacks are seen as dirty and associated with ugliness. People in her society never let her forget when she is taunted and picked on at school, “And you ugly! Black and ugly black e mos. I am cute!” (Morrison 75). Pecola’s battle with society led to her downfall with racial assimilation in addition to her lack of confidence. Morrison says, “It had occurred to Pecola some time ago that if her eyes...were different, that is to say, beautiful, she herself would be different."(Morrison --). This suggests that Pecola not only would find success in assimilating but also her psychological state of being would be well off. Moreover, this outlines the differences between the assimilation that Pecola and Rodriguez seek to lead the contrast of their outcomes. Although Rodriguez has a slight issue with his complexion, it does not hinder his success in cultural assimilation. Pecola’s struggles with skin color and lack of confidence are the results of her failure in racial …show more content…
In opposition to Morrison’s view’s about African American culture, black is beautiful in today’s society. The Art industries have become more culturally diverse, many African Americans have been leads in huge selling films, walking down the finest fashion runways and becoming number one hits on the radio. Although many of the female characters in Morrison’s novel aspired to look like Shirley Temple and actress Betty Grable, in today’s society people from white culture are trying to mimic styles of African Americans artist through cultural appropriation. Often more than not it is seen within the music industry. Artist of white decent like Katy Perry, Iggy Azalea and Eminem have all borrowed from stereotypical black culture. It is exhibited with the use of fashion styles, hair styles, body shapes as well as in their musical artistry. However like Pecola 's struggle with society, not everyone seems to agree with what these artists are doing. Their cultural appropriation has led them to lose pieces of their personal identity through the bashing from society through media. Although Pecola could not during her time period racially assimilate with the advancement of the time period people are able to alter their bodies to look like whom they