Why study harlem?

I feel that studying the harlem renaissance is still worthwhile because it was a time when blacks were finally liberated and slowly gaining rights along with women. It showed the harsh brutalities they had to face along with the many stereotypes they had to fight against to build a strong respectable reputation as a black community. People began to embrace who they were and were proud of their heritage. It was a time where black writers and musicians and artists were finally becoming recognized for their contributions to society. We need to study the harlem renaissance to understand what the blacks had to go through and what they had to face in society in order to make a change.

End of book

The ending of the book Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston took me by surprise. I was shocked to find out that Tea Cake has beaten Janie. I do not know the reasons behind him beating her other than to possibly show control over her as any man does to a woman they beat. I really can't say as though I was shocked to see that Janie just took it instead of standing up for herself. I feel this came from her past and how Joe use to control her by not allowing her to speak in public or even really be seen for that matter. I feel as though she just took this as a fact of life. She has been controlled before so it is nothing new now. I feel she like many other woman have fallen into this trap with abuse. Whether it is emotional, mental, or physical people do not leave. They feel that their love can change the man and that they will see the error of their ways and yes that is nice to think but more than likely will never happen. Granted Jody never gave her the freedom to do what she wants and with Tea Cake she can have a say she can use her voice so in a way she found herself and her strength. I feel that since she was able find her inner strength and find her voice that even though he beats her it is better than what she had before where she had no voice. I can speak from experiece that if a man beat me I could never stay with him. My boyfriend of over two years decided he was going to hit me one day and quickly after that I left him. There was no way I was going to stay around any longer to find out what else he would have done and that is why I cannot see how Janie would stay with this man. It doesn't matter how much you love someone if they can raise their hand or hurt you in any way one time they can do it again and more than likely will.