Freedom Through the Pursuit of Dreams in Their Eyes Were...

Freedom Through the Pursuit of Dreams in Their Eyes Were Watching God After the Civil War and the emancipation of the slaves, the ex-slaves could not find enough good work to earn a living. Jim Crow laws were installed to push blacks further away from reaching their dreams. These laws were enforced after Plessy v. Ferguson conviction that blacks and whites could have everything separate but equal. This included schools, transportation, drinking fountains, bathrooms and more. By 1914 all towns were split down the middle with the blacks on one side and whites on the other (Hoobler 51). The Homestead Act was established in 1866 to help blacks grow in their society. Many bought their own farms or went North and learned to†¦show more content†¦Janie doesnt love Logan, but that doesnt matter to Nanny, as long as her grandchild is protected. When Janie comes to tell her grandmother that she still doesnt love Logan after three months of marriage, Nanny says, you come heah wid yo mouf full uh foolishness on uh busy day. Heah you got uh prop tuh lean on all yo bawn days, and big protection, and everybody got tuh tip dey hat tuh you and call you Mis Killicks, and you come worryin me bout love (Hurston 22) Nanny doesnt care whether or not Janies in love, so long as she doesnt have to worry about her financial situation. The main goal of the ex-slaves was to be able to survive in the world, and that meant money to pay for their survival. Many of them either stayed with their old masters, bought farms of their own, or moved N orth in pursuit of other vocations (Hoobler 51). Nanny wanted Janie to be able to survive in her community. She tells Janie that De n----- woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah kin see. Ah been prayin fuh it tuh be different wid you (Hurston 14). Nanny may want society to change for Janie, but she still wont let her granddaughter make her own decisions about her life. Nanny is trying to follow her dream of affluence and true happiness through her granddaughter, Janie. Many blacks did this by moving North for better work and living standards. What theyShow MoreRelatedFeminist Ideals in Zora Neale Hustron ´s Eyes Were Watching God1430 Words   |  6 Pagespersonal freedom, women have overcome adversity to advocate for and acquire a more equal position in society. Among these progressive women stands Zora Neale Hurston, whose works are viewed as essential to the continuum of American feminist literature. One of the first great American black female writers, Hurston refused to concede to gender conventions and was often criticized for her deportment. And as a proponent for gender equality, Hurston penned her most acclaimed work Their Eyes Were WatchingRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. 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