How it feels to be colored me

"How It Feels to Be Colored Me" by Zora Neale Hurston is an essay written in the early 20th century that explores themes of race, identity, and personal experience. The author shares her reflections on growing up in the all-Black town of Eatonville, Florida, and how her perception of herself changed when she moved to a predominantly white environment. Hurston's work offers a unique perspective on the complexities of being a person of color in America, emphasizing her strength and individuality rather than victimhood. In this personal narrative, Hurston recounts her childhood in Eatonville and the sense of belonging she felt there, only to confront the reality of racial identity when entering a white-dominated society. As she reflects on moments that make her feel “colored,” she contrasts her experiences with those of her white peers, illustrating the challenges and joys of her cultural heritage. Rather than seeing herself as a victim of racism, she embraces her identity with pride and a sense of adventure, suggesting that cultural differences create richness rather than divide. Ultimately, Hurston conveys a message of resilience, self-acceptance, and the belief that one’s identity transcends the color of their skin. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Zora Neale Hurston was an American writer, anthropologist, folklorist, and documentary filmmaker. She portrayed racial struggles in the early-20th-century American South and published research on Hoodoo and Caribbean Vodou. The most popular of her four novels is Their Eyes Were Watching God, published in 1937. She also wrote more than 50 short stories, plays, an autobiography, ethnographies, and many essays.