The first issue that impacted Celie was a historical concern. This issue was racism. According to the book, The Color Purple, “Just then the come by. All these children, say the mayor’s wife, digging in her pocketbook. Cute as little buttons though, she say… Sofia and the prizefighter don’t say nothing … All your children so clean, she say, would you like to work for me, be my maid?” (Walker, 85). Although this incident did not happen to Celie directly, it happened to her stepson’s ex-wife, Sofia. Because Celie lived in the early to mid 1900’s, racial tension was high. Blacks were seen as nothing better than maids or house workers. When Sofia declined and attempted to defend herself, she was taken into custody. Also, according to the book,