Essay on Black Readers of Their Eyes Were Watching God case. When his novel was first published, many black readers were furious. It was not until the early 1970s that Hurston's novel was rediscovered. What aspects of the novel enraged readers to the point that it was forgotten for over thirty years? One of the most important aspects of the novel that enraged black readers was Hurston's portrayal of white people. Readers complained that Hurston was not harsh enough in his criticism of whites' treatment of blacks. Rather than portraying white people as the stereotypical “Simon Legree” from Uncle Tom's Cabin – the ideal racist, poor “white trash” – most of the white people who participate in the novel are instead very helpful to black people and do also showed great compassion towards them. For example, when Janie begins her story, we meet the Washburns. These are the white people that Nanny worked for and they are very helpful to Nanny and Janie by treating them like they are family. Unlike many whites at the time who treated blacks as if they were still slaves, the Washburns treat Nanny and Janie like human beings rather than slaves, showing great respect and love. In a way, they are described as "angels" who sincerely believe in human equality and have no prejudice in them. "My grandmother raised me. My grandmother and the white people she worked with... They were quality white people out there in West Florida. Named Washburn. She had four grandparents." chillun on the spot and we all played together..." (8). Furthermore, when reading Hurston's novel, we see clearly that all blacks place whites on a pedestal of knowledge. According to the black people in the novel, white people know everything and are always right; they are superior and since black people are supposed to be ignorant and stupid, they should believe and do everything white people say. For example, Ms. Turner states that she only trusts white doctors because black doctors are not as educated and competent as white doctors. “Don’t bring me a Negro doctor hanging out on my sickbed… White doctors always have money” (135-136). Another example is when the Indians evacuate the mud because they anticipate a big hurricane coming and the blacks do not evacuate stating that since the whites do not evacuate there is no reason to do it..

Essay / Essay on Black Readers of Their Eyes Were Watching God case. When his novel was first published, many black readers were furious. It was not until the early 1970s that Hurston's novel was rediscovered. What aspects of the novel enraged readers to the point that it was forgotten for over thirty years? One of the most important aspects of the novel that enraged black readers was Hurston's portrayal of white people. Readers complained that Hurston was not harsh enough in his criticism of whites' treatment of blacks. Rather than portraying white people as the stereotypical “Simon Legree” from Uncle Tom's Cabin – the ideal racist, poor “white trash” – most of the white people who participate in the novel are instead very helpful to black people and do also showed great compassion towards them. For example, when Janie begins her story, we meet the Washburns. These are the white people that Nanny worked for and they are very helpful to Nanny and Janie by treating them like they are family. Unlike many whites at the time who treated blacks as if they were still slaves, the Washburns treat Nanny and Janie like human beings rather than slaves, showing great respect and love. In a way, they are described as "angels" who sincerely believe in human equality and have no prejudice in them. "My grandmother raised me. My grandmother and the white people she worked with... They were quality white people out there in West Florida. Named Washburn. She had four grandparents." chillun on the spot and we all played together..." (8). Furthermore, when reading Hurston's novel, we see clearly that all blacks place whites on a pedestal of knowledge. According to the black people in the novel, white people know everything and are always right; they are superior and since black people are supposed to be ignorant and stupid, they should believe and do everything white people say. For example, Ms. Turner states that she only trusts white doctors because black doctors are not as educated and competent as white doctors. “Don’t bring me a Negro doctor hanging out on my sickbed… White doctors always have money” (135-136). Another example is when the Indians evacuate the mud because they anticipate a big hurricane coming and the blacks do not evacuate stating that since the whites do not evacuate there is no reason to do it..

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