In "How It Feels to Be Colored Me," Zora Neale Hurston describes her experiences growing up as a young, black girl in Eatonville, Florida. She writes about how her sense of self was shaped by the racial segregation and discrimination that she encountered in her community and in the wider world.
Hurston begins by describing the way that she feels when she is in Eatonville, where she is surrounded by people who look like her and share a similar culture. In this community, she is able to be her authentic self and feel a sense of belonging. However, when she leaves Eatonville and travels to other parts of the country, she becomes aware of the ways in which the color of her skin sets her apart from the white majority. She writes, "I remember the very day that I became colored." This moment, when she realizes that she is not seen as an equal by white people, is a jarring and difficult experience for Hurston.
Hurston also writes about the ways in which the racism she encounters affects her sense of self. She describes feeling "invisible" when she is around white people, as if she does not exist in the same way that they do. This experience is deeply unsettling for Hurston, as it undermines her sense of self and her place in the world. She writes, "I feel most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background." In these moments, Hurston is forced to confront the ways in which she is viewed and treated by others based on the color of her skin.
Despite the difficulties and challenges that she faces as a result of her race, Hurston remains determined to be true to herself and to celebrate her identity. She writes, "I am the only Negro in the United States whose grandfather on the mother's side was not an Indian chief." This statement is a reminder that she is a unique individual with a rich history and culture, and that she should not be defined by the negative stereotypes and prejudices that are often applied to black people.
Overall, "How It Feels to Be Colored Me" is a powerful and moving reflection on the experience of growing up as a black person in America. Through her writing, Hurston captures the joys and challenges of being colored, and offers a poignant reminder of the importance of self-acceptance and self-love.
