Internalizing Hatred

I thought it was very talented and discreet, to say the least, how through the actions, personalities, physical characteristics, and living conditions of her characters in The Bluest Eye, Morrison effectively portrayed the internalizing of socially constructed perceptions of people of color and the perceptions of Caucasians.

Geraldine, a character introduced in Winter, is a classy woman of color who had a son named Junior. She made sure he was always well groomed. Although, never did she tend to the emotional needs of her son Junior. She did not talk to him, hold him, nor kiss him. “As long as his needs were physical, she could meet them- comfort and satiety” (Morrison, 86). Geraldine’s reaction to Pecola being inside her house and the death of her cat was, “Get out, you nasty little black bitch. Get out of my house.” The aversion Geraldine displayed towards her son and Pecola conveyed the hatred she had internalized about the system, the dominant white culture, and how it had defined the conditions and traits of people who looked like her and who were less economically fortunate.

An allusion was made to Imitation of Life, which was a highly recognized and analyzed movie in my family growing up. I remember I was about 7 or 8 when I’d first seen that movie. I was growing up in a society (Yes! Unfortunately, many of Morrison’s themes are applicable in today’s day and age) where being of a darker skin tone was considered a disadvantage. So my mother sat me down and we watched Imitation of Life. For those who have not seen Imitation of Life, here is a quick synopsis: This mulatto girl (named Pecola) is repulsed by her mother because she is of color. So she moves away and attempts to live her life as a white girl. Later when Pecola finds out about the death of her mother, she is very remorseful at her funeral. Afterward watching Imitation of Life my mother explained to me how lighter skin (the “whiter,” the “better”) was a socially constructed concept that is a complete misconception. She explained to me how this concept originated from slavery times where lighter toned colored people were valued more because it was an indication of white descent. This socially constructed perception is also exhibited through Maureen, a minor character in The Bluest Eye. Maureen being mulatto (or assumed mulatto from her high-yellow skin tone description), green-eyed, and not to mention rich, was well-liked by the overall majority of the school. She received special treatment, was popular, and was envied by the young girls of a darker skin tone and of a poorer, less fortunate economic status. For these obvious advantages, Maureen had a very arrogant state of mind that clearly illustrates that she has internalized the socially constructed ideals of society. This is supported on page 73 when Maureen says, “I am cute! And you ugly! Black and ugly. . .”

Pecola’s mom, Polly Breedlove works for a white family. One day Pecola accidentally dropped a fresh, hot out the oven, cobbler off the counter. Despite the fact that the hot cobbler splattered on Pecola, Mrs. Breedlove beats her and tends to the startled white girl, the daughter of the family she works for. This action conveyed how Polly had internalized the thought that white people and their children are superior, and should be handled with love and care; they are a priority. While black people, on the other hand, are inferior and don’t deserve the same treatment as people with white skin.

On page 74, Claudia is describing the differences in treatment towards Maureen Peals and treatments toward herself, Freida, and Pecola. She says, “Jealousy we understood and though natural- a desire to have what somebody else had; but envy was a strange, new feeling for us. And all the time we knew that Maureen Peal was not the Enemy and not worthy of such intense hatred. The Thing to fear was the Thing that made her beautiful, and not us.” What is the Thing? Is Morrison (through Claudia’s character) referring to the socially constructed perceptions of all people that are defined by the dominant white culture? I’d argue, that’s exactly correct.