The Oppression In The Color Purplereve

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The oppression in the color purple

Alice Walker wrote a book entitled "The Color Purple" which represented the black

female sexuality that gained political debate in the 20th century 1982. The book reveals the

oppression faced by the African-American women that were dissimilar from the African-

American men as well as showing how the black feminist movement has spread. It is difficult to

separate between gender and race as depicted in this paper. Women in a fight for the oppression

they partake feminism movement. A group of African-American women form part of the

feminism and use it to fight back oppression by putting into consideration that womanhood and

race are inseparable. This movement forms the black feminism. Oppression of both men and

women of African-American have resulted from race, ethnicity, and class. Ethnicity is normally

determined by cultural factors like nationality while a race is by the physical factors like hair

type and skin color. According to Pamela Scully “Historians are paying attention to how ideas of

blackness or whiteness or colonized or colonizer were produced in gender and women’s history.

Race, in particular, is now seen not as a biological truth so much as a cultural classification

resulting from cognition or perception (480).” Oppression is whereby one group is denied access

to resources in the society by an individual or another group. Oppression in African-American in

men and women can be informed of gender, ethnicity, race, or class (Berlant & Lauren, 831).

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The color purple is so symbolic compared to other colors. It is a rare color thereby

making it luxurious and expensive color. Purple is a color of good judgment and wisdom

suggesting liberal ideas irrespective of the regular way of life. Alice Walker calls her work

Purple because she celebrates women and loves their culture. She commits herself to the

wholesomeness of the whole community. The title of the Novel, “The Color Purple”, stresses on

her richness and love for the color, a color that suggests the ability to overcome hardship life and

emerge victoriously from the oppressiveness. The color was also chosen because of its bonding

ability it depicts to people and the political interest semblances. This color becomes the color of

liberation by women movements in 70's as forms the suffragette movement (Berlant & Lauren,

844).

Understanding intersectionality makes us have feminism for women who are whites and

those who are black. The two type of women differ in race, therefore, have different taste of

oppression. Intersectionality entails the linkage between the causal of oppression like gender. In

19th and twentieth-century African-American women differed in a sexual relationship with

whites. Sexuality is essential because of its part of womanhood transformation. Several theories

explain oppression being centered with sexuality for example in the feminist theory the rape

trials are dominant narratives that oppress women. To conceptualize sexuality three approaches

are used. First, examining sexuality as an independent system of oppression same as class and

gender. Secondly, analysis of how sexuality within a system of oppression is manipulated likes

in gender and race. Thirdly, is approaching sexuality concept as a point at which oppressions

intersects. The black female is characterized by lack of openness concerning the sexuality which

makes it a factor for black feminism and oppression. Black females tend to react with silence and

secrecy on matters concerning sexuality. This acting is described as the culture of dissemblance

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where an individual fails to report or open up to the person who oppressed him or her (Berlant &

Lauren, 851).

Judging from historical perspective oppression existed even before the time of slavery

since the enslaved women and men were made a property to others without any legal right or

protection such that any form of mischief like sexual violation could not be punished. For this

case, black females were rationalized and considered as promiscuous and ready to have sex. A

sexual violation was a routine in slavery time since if the leader did not do the act, he would

appoint somebody else to do on his behalf. The 13th amendment and the civil war ended slavery.

However, many white men raped African-American women while seeking to regain their power.

Black women were often considered as slave owners during slavery period, and most of the

sexual violations by the whites were unpunished. .Out of fear of the society judging the black

women, they kept it secret whenever they were abused sexually. Evelynn Hammonds, a feminist

scholar, describes the following three themes on how the perception of the black women's

sexuality is maintained and produced (Berlant & Lauren, 860).

 Firstly is the construction of the black female embodiment of sex and attendant visibility

of black women as the unvoiced, unseen everything that is not white.

 The second theme is "the resistance of black women both to negative stereotypes of their

sexuality and to the material effects of those stereotypes on their lives.

 Thirdly, black women evolution of a culture of dissemblance and a politic of silence on

sexuality

Oppression concept was identified as either fiction or nonfiction, Alice Worker's theme

on The Color Purple related to fiction work sexuality. Alice was an African-American author and

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feminist who spotted on issues like sexual assault to both African-American men and women.

However, this book was received with biases on masculinity. Walker being a female author

raised mixed reaction since the era was not appreciating any effort made by a lady. Other themes

of the book included to the promotion of politics, societal change, deal with the notion on other

forms of oppression like sexuality, race, etc. this book becomes an influential work to the culture

of America. Most of the research work done encouraged people to value reading black women's

novels for it had powerful influence within the history. The book also meant to shape the culture

despite being a political and social conditioner (Berlant & Lauren, 850).

The institutionalized oppression of Black women

Black female oppression can be viewed in three dimensions such as economical,

idealistic, and political dimension. In the US capitalism labor of the black women was essential

whose exploitation was an economic representation. This forced labor was the reason why there

are a few black women who are intelligent since their priority lied on survival that had no space

for intellectual working while denial of the human rights to express their democratic right by

voting the leader of their choice was viewed as a political dimension of oppression. Also, the

stereotyped portraits of the black women during the time of slavery depicted the ideological form

of oppression. Several sexist and racist ideologies have been absorbed by the United States and

treated as being normal, as whites dominated the powerful position oppression continued since

the blacks were excluded from the political power. The three dimensions show the

institutionalized oppression arising since slavery time and across the 20th century. Depending on

sexuality and gender African-American women experienced differently on oppression compared

to their men (Berlant & Lauren, 880).

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Controlling images of black womanhood

Ideological dimension was related to stereotyping and existence of scheming images of

African-American women. The images which existed conflicted with the perception of sexuality

as it reflected the interest of the dominant group to maintain the subordination of the black

women. Each woman had to face her expectations in the society. The ideal image of white

women traditionally represented submissiveness, piety, domesticity, and purity. On the other

hand, black women encountered the following images:

Mammy's image represented the obedience of the servant working in richer homes of the

white people doing household work and caring for their children. This image was meant to

justify the economic oppression of the black women as house slaves, and it represented the

perception the elite white people had on the black women. Due to the perception of the image by

black women and teaching their children about the difference in structure between black and

whites it contributed to racial oppression. Mammy image excluded the black women from the

society and depicted the cultism of true womanhood regarding sexuality and fertility as severe.

The image of "Matriarch" symbolizing the black mother in black homes who were bad becomes

a figure of oppression attributing to the masculinity power. The children of these working

mothers failed at a school since they were not taken care off as the Mammy worked for longer

hours having less time to interact with the family. Another image was of a welfare mother who

symbolized the poor state or working class of the black women entitled by law to benefits of

social welfare. The fourth image was of Jezebel which portrayed the sexual aggressiveness of

black women (Berlant & Lauren, 855).

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Dissemblance of culture

Silence and secrecy of black women about sexuality caused reactions to the existence of

aforementioned controlling images. While analyzing the sexuality history of the black women

the following themes arise: firstly, the construction of the black female as the embodied sex and

the unvoiced women and everything that is not white being unseen. The second theme is the

resistance of the black women from getting the material effect and negative stereotype of their

sexuality and hen then the issue of dissemblance of culture which arose to counter the negativity

in images representing black women sexually (Berlant & Lauren, 831). Black women were

influenced or motivated to maintain their integrity due to threats of raping, economic oppression,

and the domestic violence. Besides the issue of power, it is a driving force to culture

dissemblance, economic discrimination also led to it as there was little opportunity for

employing the black women except in doing household chores. The uprising of the culture of

dissemblance was during the time of feminism where secrecy, silence, and integrity dominated

the sexual violated black women (Bobo & Jacqueline, 200).

Black feminism

The culture of dissemblance internalized oppression, and controlling images failed to end

sexual and racial discrimination instead raised the black feminism. To understand black

feminism scholars define the construction of sexuality and race, understand the meta language of

race, and then define race as an opportunity for dialogue. From the novel, sexuality “Gender

equity, this African feminism has the ability to subject indigenous cultural norms, received legal

notions, and new state laws to new scrutiny as they assess whether they are in women’s

interest..(706).” The features of the black feminism include

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 It is a group of oppressed American women using activism to try to stop oppression.

This is evident from the quote, “The word feminism was scarcely used, although some men

jokingly called us feminists and other men angrily pinned the label on this workshops; in

addition, the newspaper occasionally referred to the “ feminist talks” taking place. However, the

content of the women’s discourse made it clear that they wanted change and were searching for

ideas and strategies through which they could achieve it….(702).”

 Has similar core themes and standpoints despite their ideological difference with black

feminism

 Accepting heterogeneous collectivity stimulated resistance

 It relates to wider struggle for equality and recognizes the urge of changing US society

character.

Gender and sexuality are depicted by Walker using stronger female characters in the

novel like Shug, Sofia, and Kate who are also independent women and rebellious serving as role

models to the likes of Celie. The women's however, have a distinct relationship of sisterhood

which becomes the frequent theme of African-American female filmmakers as well as writers.

The black women are supportive of one another making everyone to grow (Berlant & Lauren,

858).

A dimension of oppression in the novel includes economic oppression that exploits black

women as the laborer, for instance, Sofia works as a casual laborer of the Mayor and gets

punished if she declines the job. In the attempt to counter the oppression Sofia experiences

sentence to work as mayor's maid for 12years and on the other hand Celie is seen as

economically dependable on Albert. Political dimension also emerges such that the blacks are

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denied right to vote as male dominate. Celie becomes pregnant, and her stepfather takes her from

school causing her not to receive a proper education. Her literacy only lies in reading and writing

she gained from Nettie (her sister). Also, the two, men experience lesser treatment in the society

of American. From the Novel also, the ideology dimension such that Sofia and Harpo follow the

gender roles that seem to be normal in the society for not having any choice to object. Harpo

does the job of women in the household while Sofia does more of physical work. The characters

also depict feminist aspect such that they actively endure the oppression they encounter for

instance Sofia resists her husband from beating her up, and Shug stands firm for Celie when

Albert beats her up (Berlant & Lauren, 831).

Sexism and heterosexism

Heterosexism was used as a system of power in black feminism same as the intersectional

ties like race and gender. It utilized the cultural and social meaning to black females sexually.

Heterosexism refers to the dominance of one form of sexual expression such that it oppresses

those who do not adhere towards it. In the novel, heterosexism is realized between the

relationship of Shug and Celie such that she does sexual intercourse with Albert despite being

intimate with Celie (Bobo & Jacqueline, 510).

“This division of labor is a necessary condition for commodity production, although the

converse does not hold; commodity production is not a necessary condition for the social

division of labor (323).”

Sexism: identified black feminism besides the heterosexism, Walker, reversed all the

gender roles constructed socially following the resistance of the oppressed women. He also

creates intimate settings and utilizes private events criticizing the American politics on black

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female oppression. Any attempt for establishing strong female characters received opposition.

The role models of Celie are Shug and Sofia such that Shug has an exemplary sense of self,

unlike other men. The novel has characters with a strong sense of sisterhood who keep their

ideas growing. Sexuality oppressions binds other intersectionalities since they all share pillar of

controlling black women (Berlant & Lauren, 831). Controlling and objecting the black women

had existed before in the US society as evident in The Color Purple like in the case where Celie's

stepfather sells her to Albert through a negation that treats her like a property such that she is

described as ugly but hardworking. Celie is raped by her stepfather after her mother fails to

satisfy his sexual needs. In the preservation of racial boundaries in the US, there has been

important in controlling the black sexuality. However, the regulation involved categorizing girls

as good and bad ones thereby maintaining their social order and dominance of males (Bobo &

Jacqueline, 310).

Culture and dissemblance in The Color Purple

The culture of dissemblance had black women express about their oppression providing

an insight of sexism and racism. The novel itself is fiction but represented well on what

happened in the community of blacks. In the novel, a similar voice to Celie is created and given

the language to express her sexual violation thereby promoting discussion on womanhood sexual

politics. Celie was writing a letter to God as she feels no one is listening to her grievances which

show how the women were in oppression. The letter becomes the only channel her voice can be

heard and the message of their suffering. As mentioned by Collins the black women

consciousness entails:

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Self-definition

 The importance of self-evaluation and respect gotten

 The necessity of self-reliance and independence

 The public reaction to the purple color

The novel provoked criticism and proved black feminism not being where it should be.

Also, in 1982 when the book was published Walker received hostility from the public which

opened a discussion about black feminism including many opinions about gender inequality and

the masculine biases. Black men failed to empathize with the women suffering from sexism or

even acknowledged their struggle instead they used it for their political gain and oppression

struggle (Bobo & Jacqueline, 310).

In conclusion, Alice worker played a significant role in black feminism in her The Purple

Color. In the analysis of the black female sexuality in the book, it was essential acknowledging

how race and gender correlated as well as the oppression of the black women perceptions.

Scholars of black feminism used different dimensions to help understand various themes of

oppression for example division in ideological, political and economic perspective. In feminist

theory, white scholars do not appreciate the intersectionality and traditional feminism participate

in the oppression of the black women. Stereotyping and emergence of controlling images in the

society of American also contributed to the sexuality and oppression (Berlant & Lauren, 831).

The uprising of the dissemblance culture only pointed out that black women dealt with sexuality

in silence and secrecy but did not provide ways of overcoming this kind of discrimination

regarding race and sexuality or other intersectionality. From the novel, sexuality binds

oppression regarding race, class, and gender and male-dominated the female sexuality. The

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oppressions depicted in the book include heterosexism, a culture of dissemblance, and sexism.

The use of young black woman voice in the novel reflected the face of American society which

encouraged discussions on oppression and criticized the change of black women consciousness

resulting in a shift from dissemblance culture. The weakness in “The Color Purple” is that it is

hardly studied in depth and only used to symbolize the black feminism. Feminist theories also do

not elucidate broadly on feminism and intersectionality as much as they are primary aspects of

feminism (Bobo & Jacqueline, 310).

It is recommendable to enhance public awareness debate on feminism to the mainstream

on the feminist theory. Realization of womanhood by all women has not been affected, and

division remains between the black and white feminism. The reason being a difference in

experience and priorities amongst feminism, all the focus for any movement dwells on women

equality.

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Work Cited

Berlant, Lauren. "Race, Gender, and Nation in" The Color Purple"." Critical Inquiry 14.4 (1988):

831-859.

Bobo, Jacqueline. "29 n The Color Purple: Black Women as Cultural Readers." Cultural theory

and popular culture: A reader (1997): 310.

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