Blue Eyes

Reading The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, I was reminded of an obstacle that my community, the black community, has been facing for decades. We feel that we are not good enough and that we have to succumb to the typical stereotype of an African American. I came to this assumption only by being observant and reading novels such as The Bluest Eye, and Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. I believed it was implanted in our brains and passed on during the turmoils of slavery. It seems that this view is slowly subsiding because African Americans are accomplishing phenomenal tasks, but nevertheless I still see it in existence. This is most evident in some blacks blaming whites for their way of life; I have heard this accusation from some of my family members. I do not agree with them because America has advanced to a time where all ethnic groups have the same opportunity to pursue a higher education. This can be illustrated by looking at my new community, Austin. Austin is flowing with individuals of many different backgrounds and ways of life. So, it is bullshit for blacks to blame another race for not having the opportunity to have a decent life. With that being said, I also think it is bullshit to say that our government is free of racist individuals. It is too soon after the whole Civil Rights Era to believe that all negative feelings towards blacks has subsided.




(The image illustrates Barack Obama speaking to a crowd of hundreds maybe thousands. He is an excellent
of a successful African American. He graduated from college and went on to pursue a career in law. He has written two bestseller's novels. He currently is running for the President of the United States. This would not be possible if he had a mentality that others were going to define the man he would become.)






Being treated as objects and animals during the periods of slavery had us, the black community, questioning ourselves as children of God as all of us are, whites, Asians, Hispanics, etc. Somehow there was validity of our appearance being searched for. That is understandable since, as Toni Morrison pointed out, desirable things like baby dolls portrayed beauty as being white. I cannot comprehend how that must feel. Growing up I had dolls of lighter and darker skin; so I did not question the color of my dolls when I received new ones year round. In the novel, Claudia refers to her baby doll as "I could not love it." (Morrison, 21) There was such a hatred in her heart for what was portrayed as beautiful, being white with blue eyes, that there was no way to express love for a material thing such as a doll.


(The image shows a blue-eyed white baby doll. Similar to one the Claudia disfigured in her rage against a doll she could not identify with.)





This is not only a problem in the black community but all around. Sometimes we rely on the opinions of others to feel good about ourselves. It's as if the world has to say we are beautiful and worthy of that job or that lifestyle. I fall victim to this sometimes too; it's a psychological barrier that needs to be torn down. I can see how this would be hard to overcome in a time period such as the one in The Bluest Eye. Those in power, which were only whites at the time , instilled this horrible notion in those who were different than them. Pecola believed that she was so ugly and resorted to thoughts such as "Please, God...Please make me disappear." (Morrison, 45) This little girl is screaming self-esteem and self-identity issues. Her situation does not improve either; when she visits the Yacobowski's Fresh Veg. Meat and Sundries Store, she endures the store owner "[hesitating,] not wanting to touch her hand." ( Morrison, 49) It is one thing for an individual to feel they are inadequate, but it is totally different when others express the same views and act on their thoughts. Many young girls suffer in this way. It is up to the family to instill the power of having self-esteem into children. Fathers and mothers should always remind young girls of their beauty because girls have the tendency to search for assurance outside their home and normally in a negative environment.

(The image shows a little girl of color embracing a little white girl. This is a perfect illustration of how we, as Americans, should embrace the different ethnicities we are blessed to have in our country.)





"Shame is a crucial response, as is the related but more common fear of abandonment, especially when triggered by equating physical beauty with human value." (Bump, 189).

It is extremely shameful to equate beauty with the value of a human being. As humans, I believe we were all born by design of God. We have no control over being born black, white, with blue eyes, with brown eyes, with a big nose, or with small lips. It is complete nonsense to harm others because of their physical features. There is no right and wrong race. There is no good or bad hair. Most importantly, there is no right color of eyes. Such stereotypes were formed over the years by individuals trying to portray themselves as being higher beings and better than everyone else.

It saddens me to know that characters like Claudia and Pecola from The Bluest Eye actually represent so many individuals that lived through the years of slavery and discrimination in our country. I am hopeful that we can rise above the bad decisions a group of Americans made and unite to become a successful and diverse country.