In the 1920’s in Yoknapatawpha County, the town Jefferson, Mississippi places a large emphasis on the race of an individual in their society. Jefferson was still constructing itself in a post-civil war era. With all people technically free, both blacks and whites coexisted under the infamous Jim Crow laws, separate but equal. Similarly to many other parts of America during this time period, blacks were separate but certainly not equal. The racial tension and racism in this community are a profound force that shaped their society and the culture of Jefferson. Although race was an immense driving force in the fabric of the Jefferson society, religion and tradition also played a pivotal part in shaping Jefferson. The cultural norms and values
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However, many other conditions can lead to oppression from the Jefferson society. Reverend Gail Hightower knows this all too well, a former Reverend, he is now a hermit and a social outcast. Before he was anointed an outcast, he led sermons at the Church that were about his deceased war hero grandfather who lived in Jefferson. These sermons often got confusing and were very passionate being described as “it was if he couldn’t get religion and that galloping cavalry and his dead grandfather shot from the galloping horse untangled from each other” (62). These personal and emotional sermons were not approved by the people of Jefferson. The church-goers opinions only decreased when they saw Hightower’s wife explode during a sermon of his, “she sprang from the bench and began to scream, and to shriek something toward the pulpit” (64). Reverend Hightower took her to a sanitarium where she stayed for a few weeks. This sort of behavior, shook the small town of Jefferson, a Preacher having these personal issues disturbed many town elders which further decreased the public perception of Reverend …show more content…
Those expectations were to be applied only to white people. Because the expectations of black people were vastly different. Black people were expected to be uncivil, encourage integration, break laws and stay away from white women. Race played a massive role in expectations about any given person’s contributions to society. These expectations weighed down heavily on Joe Christmas a man of mixed racial descent. He was often conflicted with his own personal identity “His black blood drove him first to the Negro cabin, and then the white blood drove him out of there. It was the black blood that snatched the pistol and the white blood that would not let him fire it” (449). When reflecting on his decisions to murder Joanna Burden, Joe Christmas is attributing all of his law-abiding choices to his white blood. In contrast, Joe Christmas is blaming his decision to murder Joanna Burden on his black blood. Any decision that is illegal, unchristian, or considered wrong by society, he accuses his black ancestry of blame. The expectation that white people commit zero sins and that black people perpetually commit sins is maintained by the Jefferson society. The high value of the white race, and low value of the black race in Jefferson preserve the notion that inequality in Jefferson is
However, many other conditions can lead to oppression from the Jefferson society. Reverend Gail Hightower knows this all too well, a former Reverend, he is now a hermit and a social outcast. Before he was anointed an outcast, he led sermons at the Church that were about his deceased war hero grandfather who lived in Jefferson. These sermons often got confusing and were very passionate being described as “it was if he couldn’t get religion and that galloping cavalry and his dead grandfather shot from the galloping horse untangled from each other” (62). These personal and emotional sermons were not approved by the people of Jefferson. The church-goers opinions only decreased when they saw Hightower’s wife explode during a sermon of his, “she sprang from the bench and began to scream, and to shriek something toward the pulpit” (64). Reverend Hightower took her to a sanitarium where she stayed for a few weeks. This sort of behavior, shook the small town of Jefferson, a Preacher having these personal issues disturbed many town elders which further decreased the public perception of Reverend …show more content…
Those expectations were to be applied only to white people. Because the expectations of black people were vastly different. Black people were expected to be uncivil, encourage integration, break laws and stay away from white women. Race played a massive role in expectations about any given person’s contributions to society. These expectations weighed down heavily on Joe Christmas a man of mixed racial descent. He was often conflicted with his own personal identity “His black blood drove him first to the Negro cabin, and then the white blood drove him out of there. It was the black blood that snatched the pistol and the white blood that would not let him fire it” (449). When reflecting on his decisions to murder Joanna Burden, Joe Christmas is attributing all of his law-abiding choices to his white blood. In contrast, Joe Christmas is blaming his decision to murder Joanna Burden on his black blood. Any decision that is illegal, unchristian, or considered wrong by society, he accuses his black ancestry of blame. The expectation that white people commit zero sins and that black people perpetually commit sins is maintained by the Jefferson society. The high value of the white race, and low value of the black race in Jefferson preserve the notion that inequality in Jefferson is