In Toni Morrison's novel "The Bluest Eye," racism is a pervasive and destructive force that affects the lives of the novel's main characters. The story takes place in the 1940s, in a small, predominantly white town in Ohio, and follows the lives of a group of black children as they navigate the challenges and injustices of growing up in a racist society.
At the center of the story is Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl who longs for the "bluest eye" of all, believing that this will make her beautiful and loved. Pecola's desire for blue eyes is a direct result of the internalized racism that she has experienced throughout her life. From a young age, she has been told that white people are superior to black people, and that the traits and characteristics associated with whiteness – such as light skin, straight hair, and blue eyes – are the most desirable. Pecola's yearning for blue eyes is a manifestation of her own self-hatred and her belief that she is unworthy of love and acceptance because of the color of her skin.
Throughout the novel, the characters encounter numerous examples of overt racism, including segregation, discrimination, and violence. They also experience more subtle forms of racism, such as the way in which black people are depicted in the media and the cultural expectations placed on black children to conform to white standards of beauty and behavior. All of these experiences contribute to the internalized racism that Pecola and the other characters experience, and to the destructive effects of racism on their lives and relationships.
One of the most poignant examples of racism in "The Bluest Eye" is the way in which it affects Pecola's relationship with her own family. Pecola's father, Cholly, is a deeply troubled man who has experienced a lifetime of trauma and abuse, including being abandoned by his own parents and being raised in a series of foster homes. As a result, Cholly is deeply damaged and unable to provide the love and support that Pecola needs. Instead, he turns to alcohol and violence as a means of coping with his pain and anger, and he becomes abusive towards Pecola and her mother.
Pecola's mother, Pauline, is also a victim of racism and its damaging effects. Pauline is a domestic worker who is constantly belittled and mistreated by her white employers. She is also deeply unhappy in her marriage to Cholly, and feels trapped and powerless in her own life. As a result, Pauline is unable to provide the emotional support and guidance that Pecola needs, and she becomes increasingly distant and disengaged from her daughter.
In "The Bluest Eye," Morrison shows how racism affects not just the individuals who experience it, but also the relationships between people and the larger society in which they live. Through the story of Pecola and her family, Morrison illustrates the devastating consequences of internalized racism and the way in which it can destroy individuals and families. At the same time, the novel also offers a message of hope and resilience, as Pecola and the other characters find the strength and courage to confront the challenges they face and to fight against the injustice of racism.
