Last Entry!

I think studying the Harlem Renaissance in the 21st century is necessary to understanding American history. It has to do with African American history and culture as well as their struggle and life style. Their strength and determination shines through the literature from the 1920’s as blacks searched for their identity and ways to improve their lives. Other influences from the Harlem Renaissance include music and dance. Clearly jazz music made impression in history as it led to other forms of musical expression such as hip hop and rap. I also find it interesting that there are still lindy hop dance competitions being held today! I never would have imagined an art form like that was still being practiced. That just goes to show the long lasting impact that African American artists had on today’s world.

Ending of Their Eyes Were Watching God

I have to admit I wasn't thrilled reading Their Eyes Were Watching God. It was especially difficult to understand the black vernacular and it took a while for me to actually get into the book. I think that point was when Janie and Tea Cake got together. The excitement and happiness of their relationship made the book more interesting for me.

I was happy when Janie found herself and true love with Tea Cake. After all that she had been through, growing up without her mother, loosing her grandmother and having been in two horrible marriages, I think Janie defiantly deserved it. However the one thing I can’t seem to get out of my mind is the way Tea Cake died. It was even heartbreaking for me to find out from the doctor that Tea Cake would not be able to pull through this illness and essentially get violent, possibly hurting Janie. After hearing that, I had a feeling that Tea Cake’s death was going to be a tragic and dramatic one. It didn’t surprise me that Hurston had Janie kill Tea Cake in the end. I say this only because Janie always seemed to have strength and courage to do what she felt was best (ex: leaving Logan for Joe without divorcing him), even though she was on a quest for her self identity. I think Hurston used Janie's character to display black women of this time period as courageous, powerful and beautiful (no matter what age).