Who says that color defines what we are? What deity decides that we should only be seen by the color of our skin or that because of the color of our skin we will never be anything worthy of a little praise? In today’s modern world, the struggles of stereotypes and preconceived ideas about the dispositions and tendencies of a black male certainly influence the way black males act around other people, and how their actions are received. Throughout Toni Morrison’s “Song of Solomon” we see multiple examples of this and we realize the different perspectives and attitudes that each character brings to the table, and how this affects everyone and everything around them. The name of one of these characters whose perspectives were influenced
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Foster. Dr. Foster is a minor character in the story but plays a major role in the development of the relationship between Ruth Foster, Macon Dead, and their son Milkman. Dr. Foster believes that being black in general is wrong, and you can see that he hates himself for it and would much rather be white. On page 71 it states how Doctor Foster was a hypocritical Negro who hated his own race and his own color saying that all blacks are cannibals. He even delivers both Lena and Corinthians and each time hoped that they weren’t black. “He delivered both your sisters himself and each time all he was interested in was the color of their skin.” This shows how much he valued being white and how much he thought about the color of his skin, and would only ever be happy if he was white. Doctor Foster is the only one of the three who does not believe in separation for stereotypes and pressures of being a black male. He believes in conformity in which he should conform to society or he is wrong, and for a man of his statue who was well respected throughout the city it’s really a disgrace. At least Guitar would stand up for his race or try to do something to support his own people. Instead Doctor Foster figuratively kills himself over the color of his skin because he wants to conform to society. He wants to become white. Dr. Foster never lived happy because all he wanted and all he would ever want is to be white, and we see this again that you just can’t run away
Foster. Dr. Foster is a minor character in the story but plays a major role in the development of the relationship between Ruth Foster, Macon Dead, and their son Milkman. Dr. Foster believes that being black in general is wrong, and you can see that he hates himself for it and would much rather be white. On page 71 it states how Doctor Foster was a hypocritical Negro who hated his own race and his own color saying that all blacks are cannibals. He even delivers both Lena and Corinthians and each time hoped that they weren’t black. “He delivered both your sisters himself and each time all he was interested in was the color of their skin.” This shows how much he valued being white and how much he thought about the color of his skin, and would only ever be happy if he was white. Doctor Foster is the only one of the three who does not believe in separation for stereotypes and pressures of being a black male. He believes in conformity in which he should conform to society or he is wrong, and for a man of his statue who was well respected throughout the city it’s really a disgrace. At least Guitar would stand up for his race or try to do something to support his own people. Instead Doctor Foster figuratively kills himself over the color of his skin because he wants to conform to society. He wants to become white. Dr. Foster never lived happy because all he wanted and all he would ever want is to be white, and we see this again that you just can’t run away