Impact of Colorism on the Lives of African Americans: A Feminist Reading of God Help the Child

Abstract

This research work is an analysis of the portrayal of women in the latest novel of Toni Morrison God Help the Child (2015). It mainly focuses on the impact of colorism on the lives of black women in USA. In USA colored people are consistently facing this problem. Feminist theory by bell hooks is used as theoretical frame for the study. This study has explored new aspects of feminism such as, violence against children, revolutionary parenting, sisterhood, and colorism. This research has explored that colorism is a phenomenon that is directly related to racism and it increases the difficulties for women in USA. It is also proved that all the difficulties in the life of main character are due to her black color. This research concludes that it is a collective responsibility of parents and the society to rear the children and to teach them the importance of their own values and their own-selves. Feminists need a lot of hard work to erase the wrong concept of feminism from the minds of people and instill a new concept that is “feminism is to end sexist oppression” instead of ‘feminism is to become equal with men’.