In "Sweat" and in Zora Neale Hurston's accounts in "How It Feels to Be Colored Me," there are many elements of the modernist period at play. The most important was the social status of African Americans in America at that time. However, Hurston's simple depiction of the lives of African Americans during her time, her consistent use of African American women in her stories to advance feminism, and her influence on other authors during the Harlem Renaissance make her a contributor, if not the biggest. to the modernist movement. In Hurston's time there were many other Harlem Renaissance pioneers, such as Langston Hughes and W. E. B. Du Bois, with whom Hurston worked, but what sets Hurston apart from the pack is the versatility he displays in his writing. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayAn inclusive approach to writing for those who have no voice was the ultimate goal of Hurston's writing, representing for those who can" not do it alone. During Hurston's time she helped illuminate the identity of all African Americans, not just African American men. Hurston published “How It Feels To Be Colored Me” in 1928, a time when America was still in the dark shadow cast by the history of slavery. Hurston's parents were slaves, so he understood the enormous psychological repercussions of living in a post-genocidal culture, and then magically trying to integrate into that same society that only a generation before considered you property, but mostly not human was left in shambles, but Hurston understood that in order for African Americans to continue moving forward, they needed to have some idea of ​​who they were before slavery “Slavery was the price I paid for civilization, and the choice was not mine.”(3). Hurston puts the reader into his direct stream of consciousness, and his explanation of the destruction of his ancestor's identity is spot on. This claim of having a past legacy before slavery as a means of African American progression is in line with W.E.B. Dubois, in terms of the education involved, but as far as regaining identity, that idea belongs to Hurston. Around the same time, women in America had just won the right to suffrage, but African American men and women were far from that point. Harlem had many male African American writers, but there weren't as many for women. Yet it is on the scrutiny of African American women that Hurston highlights: “It is thrilling to know that for every act of mine I will receive double the praise, or double the blame” (3). The judgment Hurston refers to concerns gender prejudice in post-slavery America, particularly in the African-American community. A man who does not earn his bread and butter will be scrutinized much like the criticism Sykes receives from Moss. “Syke Jones doesn't have the heart to shoot them with a shot of gunpowder to kill them. No, it's not” (6). Delia is known in her town as the breadwinner of her family, everyone knows this, but the town also knows Sykes' nature, and because of this, Delia is judged for being with him. As Hurston says about the double-edged sword of judgment, it's great when it's in your favor, but it also cuts very deep when it's pointed against you. The identity crisis manifests itself in this sense, because if the men who joked about Sykes had any real sense of identity, they would not focus on Sykes, but instead put Delia on the pedestal she deserves to be on. Another important ideological repercussion of slavery that Hurston focuses on isthe infantilization of African Americans. After generations of slavery and being told you are incapable of basic thought, there are definitely deep psychological wounds that need healing. Hurston's firsthand account of that feeling brings out the trauma: "They feel more colorful when cast against a crisp white background" (3). His description of the background as edgy exemplifies the trauma mentioned above. Living in a world designed for whites literally cut into the psyche of African Americans, and the only cure for those cuts was to reform African American identity. America created a psychological hierarchy to ensure the continuity of white rule, and Hurston reinvents this constant horror as the serpent that Sykes brings home. Both the horror of white rule and the serpent share many characteristics. Like the caged snake, the threat of white violence was always there, always ready to strike at a moment's notice, given the opportunity. The snake also stays in the house for a week, and Delia is forced to live with that threat around her, but she has to behave as if there was no plausible threat, as if everything was fine. The reader is immersed in Delia's indirect stream of consciousness to understand her feelings towards the serpent: "She stood long in the doorway in a red fury that grew bloodier with every second she looked at the creature that was her torment" (6 ). In regards to African American female identity, Delia is depicted as a strong woman, who not only can withstand the tension and violence of the serpent, but is capable of wielding the horror of the serpent in her favor. On the surface, Delia seems like the ordinary heroine of the story who walks without fear, yet she feels the fear, it's what drives her inside. Delia is aware of the danger and fear of being around the snake, but she always remains herself, adapting to the situation. This scene metaphorizes Delia in the identity of the African American woman and the serpent in the oppressive force that seeks to keep that identity at bay. Delia is strong, her will cannot be broken as easily as before. The snake is trying to dictate who Delia should be, but as dangerous as the snake is, it is caged, Delia is not afraid of the snake's venom. Delia is truly herself and has a concrete identity. Hurston creates a concrete identity of the African American woman through her work of fiction, the Harlem Renaissance, Modernism, and, a few branches further, feminism, all benefit greatly from this characterization of Delia, because her features embody the characteristics of those movements. feminist perspective Delia is a great example of the advancement of African American women. Eerily similar to Hurston, Delia must also work to build her identity, as well as her income. The 1920s were a great time for women and white Americans, but the economy was not in favor of African Americans. So for Delia, an African American woman, having her own property is exceptional and, just like her identity, she has to work hard and “sweat” to get it. When Sykes condescendingly berates Delia for her work, she retorts perfectly. "Well the sweat has been paid for this place and, ah, I think I will continue to sweat" (2). Delia never asked to be placed in this line of judgment, but she does her best. The term “sweat” takes on many new forms in this line. The first form is the sweat needed to work hard for an income and to be able to withstand Sykes' scolding. But why does Delia sweat for Sykes? Simply put, because it has to. Hurston uses Sykes to represent the lack of African American male identity and the state of infantilization they faced after slavery..