Sula-Compare And Contrast Essay

921 Words4 Pages

Two very different writers discuss race relations and prejudice, but they take distinct approaches to the topic. I’ll compare and contrast The ways that each author approaches these subjects in there perspective writing. Racism is still a major issue in American culture today. African American authors have extensively tackled this topic in there creative ways. I will compare and contrast how Claudi Rankine’s and Citizen by toni Morrison’s Sula depict racial relations and racism in contemporary American culture. Despite the fact that both authors address racism, their approaches are distinct, very different.

Citizen: Claudia Rankine explores the impact of racism on the lives of African Americans. The book is a mix of poetry, prose, and visual …show more content…

Morrison uses striking visuals to show how racism affects how black people are perceived. The inhabitants of the Bottom allude to Sula as a "black presence" that looms above their town and is regarded by them as malevolent, a seepage from the devil's own cauldron. The deeply rooted biases and presumptions that exist in society are brought to light through this artwork. Morrison is a prime example of how racism impacts the feeling of identity within the African American community. The author claims that the struggle to assimilate into a society that is hostile to or apathetic to black people is a constant topic in the book. The topic of the book is the necessity to identify one's identity and one's position in a society that is hostile or apathetic to black people (Morrison, p. 9). This statement demonstrates how racism may make it challenging for African Americans to comprehend who they are and how they fit into …show more content…

Claudia provides striking pictures to show how racism affects the black body. She talks of a postcard that had a picture of a lynching victim being hung from a tree and was sent out to recipients. "This is the BBQ we enjoyed last night," says the caption at the bottom of the postcard. This phrase illustrates the severe brutality and violence directed towards black people by using the picture of a lynching victim. The caption's choice of the phrase "barbecue" demonstrates how commonplace and accepted violence against African Americans has