After reading this book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, I gained a better understanding of the everyday life in the 1920's-1930's era. The main character, Janie, struck me as a rather confident and determined individual even though she started life out a little timid. I personally would like to spend the day with her, get to know her and learn more about her beliefs. Now, transferring from different points of views, I am becoming Janie and will be discussing her worldview in first person.
My name is Janie Crawford and I am a strong woman mixed of white and black heritage. I grew up in Florida with my nanny and grandmother. Poverty was my world. At a young age I was unsure of my future and what I wanted. All I had known was what my nanny and grandmother had taught me. My grandmother was not a Christian and she just wanted what was best for me. When I was of age, my grandmother insisted I marry a man I was not in love with. I felt this marriage was wrong based on what I've been told about love. Love is when two people have chemistry. Love is when you like to be together, sleep together, and do everything together. Love is caring, respectful, friendship, and kind. I learned very quickly that one couldn't be forced into loving someone, no matter if you just met or have known him or her forever.
Everybody has a purpose on this earth, that's why God created them. I know that when someone dies, for example my dear Tea Cake, they go to heaven. Tea Cake's death was not quite how I wanted it to be, but I learned to move on. I extended towards keeping our memories together alive, and thanked him for truly giving me opportunities to live a satisfying life. The true people in this world are the ones who live life not based on race or gender, but are not afraid to take risks and are confident with themselves. Confidence was a huge aspect that changed my character for the best. For example, stepping up to my second husband and telling him I have a right to voice my opinion was a risky move. In the end, I came out a stronger woman.
I would like to think I am a Christian, but have done some immoral things, such as leaving my first husband. I believe that God exists and that he will forgive my sins. One of the times I need him most was during the time the hurricane struck Tea Cake and I's house. I remember sitting there, we seemed to be staring at the dark, but our eyes were watching God. In this time I was praying for us to come out alive. We had no idea what was coming for us and when our last moment would be. It was truly a moment that I still vividly remember to this day.
These last three paragraphs are Janie's worldview, and now I am to discuss my own. Growing up, my parents gave me great opportunities to develop my faith. They we Christians themselves and raised me in a Christian environment. I believe I am a faithful person and that I believe in God. Sunday school, confirmation, and sermons were and are a part of my life. Similar to Janie, I believe that God was the creator of everything and that we were all put on this earth for a purpose.
A day spent with Janie in her world would be extremely interesting. I would like to experience the good and the bad. I would experience a huge setback of technology and gain a better understanding of how people communicated back then. Another eye opening experience would be witnessing direct racial discrimination. Even though there is still racial discrimination today, it is not nearly as bad as back in Janie's time. I would also like to walk around town with Janie to get a feel for the environment directly of how she was treated the townspeople. This would give me appreciation of my world. Another experience I would like to have is to talk with Mrs. Turner. She struck me as a mean and rude woman. The way she treats dark blacks is different from how she treats light blacks. I would like to watch her communicate with me and see if she would respect me or hate me because I'm white. Lastly, the treatment of men and women is different during this time. It would be very interesting to witness the stereotypical role of men and women back in that era; the little housewife cooking in the kitchen and the domineering husband leaving for work. Overall, the experience would be memorable for sure.
A day spent with Janie in my world would be a spectacular time. Janie would get to experience the luxury of advanced technology. Appliances such as a washer, dryer, microwave, and even cell phones would be fun to show her. I would most definitely want to show her Google. She would be shocked at how much freedom she had. The right to her own education and the fact that we have an African American President would blow her away. Another aspect she would probably find interesting is seeing mixed race couples and same sex marriages. Today there are families with great diversity. I would also like to bring Janie to meet Oprah Winfrey to show her how far equal rights for women and race have come. There's so much I would like to do with her that I don't think it would be possible to do in just one day.
By Sierra Stendahl