This short excerpt tells very little about what is going on in the story, yet even this small slice provides the background of a very prejudiced setting and a time when blacks were so ill-regarded whites did not even want to look at them. The stereotypes are very prominent as the teacher refuses to believe that Angela could be anything but white. "She dresses in better taste than anyone in the room," according to Mr. Shields a black girl would not be able to do that. The model refuses to pose for a black girl, even though she does not even look black, knowing that she has African American blood angers the model.
When Mr. Shields discusses the situation with his wife they focus not on the rudeness and barbaric attitude of the model, but instead on the more pressing matter of Angela's racial profile. You can be a perfectly nice, smart student, yet if you were suspected to be anything other than Caucasian you are judged very harshly. The model, who's attitude was completely atrocious receives none of the scorn that a black person would in those days. It is outrageous. When Angela is questioned by Mr. Shields about her race, she says "Of course I never told you that I was coloured, why should I?" From this excerpt alone, we cannot determine Angela's race because that her response would be typical of a white or a black student. If she were white she of course would not contradict it by saying she was black. If she were black, she would surely not volunteer that information as well because she didn't want to be treated differently. As a black girl she may not even be allowed to attend school. If Mr.Shields wondered why she did not say anything, he should know better.
The fact that Angela did not get worried or upset when the model came in makes me think that she is white, she would have feared the model exposing her true identity if she was black. Her association with black people is also well known, as she proudly brings in a picture of Hetty Daniels, a black woman who works for their family. Esther (the model) clearly hates Angela, possibly enough to make up a lie, and definitely enough to expose her if it is true. Why is her race such a big deal if it's not even noticable? Would she get kicked out of school? Would her friends disown her is it is true? There is a lot of information the reader needs to know to come to conclusions.
Being the only black person in an all white school is no picnic. "The Blacker the Berry," shows us another side to being black. Emma Lou's greatest wish is to have lighter skin. She tries everything she can think of to be less dark, because the darker you are the more you are judged. In the first paragraph Emma refers to her skin as both 'luscious' and 'a curse.' Obviously it is very hard for her to accept her own skin tone because she is surrounded by white people, or less dark people. Even her mother is white. Her mother tried to prepare her, to warn her that life would be especially difficult because not only was she black, she was also a girl. Black boys can 'get along' alright, but it's even harder to be accepted as a black girl.
When Emma Lou graduates she can't appreciate her accomplishment, she doesn't think about her diploma, she doesn't even go to recieve it when they first call her name. Why isn't she proud of graduating? Because she is only focusing on the fact that she is the only black student in her school and she is wearing a white graduation gown which makes her stick out even more against her dark skin. She feels all eyes on her and is so self conscious she can only see graduation as a release.
Even her friend Alva is ashamed to be seen with her. He never let her do anything with his friends because he was afraid of being teased. However, when he invites her to a party she cannot wait to come. The attendants are not his real, white, friends but other African Americans. When the guests discuss skin color Emma Lou is silenced. According to some of the guests, the lighter you skin tone, the more pure you are. So if you are very dark in color, you will be judged more harshly as a Negro than mulattos and other African Americans who are not quite so dark. As if Emma Lou wasn't self conscious enough! How can people who are prejudiced for their skin color be prejudiced at others of their race just because they are darker? It's a dreaded cycle, people who get bullied or pushed around often want to get out their anger and resentment on weaker individuals. This could be the reason that the lighter skinned African Americans felt fine with judging people who are darker. So ingrained was the white prejudice, that even the black people believed that they were lesser.
When Mr. Shields discusses the situation with his wife they focus not on the rudeness and barbaric attitude of the model, but instead on the more pressing matter of Angela's racial profile. You can be a perfectly nice, smart student, yet if you were suspected to be anything other than Caucasian you are judged very harshly. The model, who's attitude was completely atrocious receives none of the scorn that a black person would in those days. It is outrageous. When Angela is questioned by Mr. Shields about her race, she says "Of course I never told you that I was coloured, why should I?" From this excerpt alone, we cannot determine Angela's race because that her response would be typical of a white or a black student. If she were white she of course would not contradict it by saying she was black. If she were black, she would surely not volunteer that information as well because she didn't want to be treated differently. As a black girl she may not even be allowed to attend school. If Mr.Shields wondered why she did not say anything, he should know better.
The fact that Angela did not get worried or upset when the model came in makes me think that she is white, she would have feared the model exposing her true identity if she was black. Her association with black people is also well known, as she proudly brings in a picture of Hetty Daniels, a black woman who works for their family. Esther (the model) clearly hates Angela, possibly enough to make up a lie, and definitely enough to expose her if it is true. Why is her race such a big deal if it's not even noticable? Would she get kicked out of school? Would her friends disown her is it is true? There is a lot of information the reader needs to know to come to conclusions.
Being the only black person in an all white school is no picnic. "The Blacker the Berry," shows us another side to being black. Emma Lou's greatest wish is to have lighter skin. She tries everything she can think of to be less dark, because the darker you are the more you are judged. In the first paragraph Emma refers to her skin as both 'luscious' and 'a curse.' Obviously it is very hard for her to accept her own skin tone because she is surrounded by white people, or less dark people. Even her mother is white. Her mother tried to prepare her, to warn her that life would be especially difficult because not only was she black, she was also a girl. Black boys can 'get along' alright, but it's even harder to be accepted as a black girl.
When Emma Lou graduates she can't appreciate her accomplishment, she doesn't think about her diploma, she doesn't even go to recieve it when they first call her name. Why isn't she proud of graduating? Because she is only focusing on the fact that she is the only black student in her school and she is wearing a white graduation gown which makes her stick out even more against her dark skin. She feels all eyes on her and is so self conscious she can only see graduation as a release.
Even her friend Alva is ashamed to be seen with her. He never let her do anything with his friends because he was afraid of being teased. However, when he invites her to a party she cannot wait to come. The attendants are not his real, white, friends but other African Americans. When the guests discuss skin color Emma Lou is silenced. According to some of the guests, the lighter you skin tone, the more pure you are. So if you are very dark in color, you will be judged more harshly as a Negro than mulattos and other African Americans who are not quite so dark. As if Emma Lou wasn't self conscious enough! How can people who are prejudiced for their skin color be prejudiced at others of their race just because they are darker? It's a dreaded cycle, people who get bullied or pushed around often want to get out their anger and resentment on weaker individuals. This could be the reason that the lighter skinned African Americans felt fine with judging people who are darker. So ingrained was the white prejudice, that even the black people believed that they were lesser.
Works Cited
Works Cited
Thurman, Wallace. "The Blacker the Berry." The Portable Harlem Renaissance Reader. Ed. David Lewis. New York: 1995. 636-649.
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