External Racism - “Cora Unashamed”
Cora Jenkins yields to ubiquitous racism at Melton: “Cora Jenkins was one of the least of the citizens of Melton. She was what the people referred to when they wanted to be polite, as a Negress, and when they wanted to be rude, as a nigger -- sometimes adding the word "wench" for no good reason, for Cora was usually an inoffensive soul, except that she sometimes cussed.” Cora’s social grade is foregrounded on her race or color. If she were utterly white, she would have not been pigeonholed among ‘the least citizens.’ The designations: ‘Negress, n*gger and wench’ pose racist associations that accentuate the frivolity of Black people. Cora’ ‘cussing’ suppositions that the categorical racism that she unremittingly bears discomforts her incalculably.
Internalized racism - “Passing”
Although Jack is manifestly biracial, he primarily associates himself with whiteness because it is clearly expedient to be white. His white skin does not proffer intimations of his hereditary genes: “But I don’t mind being ‘white’, Ma, and it was mighty generous of you to urge me to go ahead and make use of my light skin and good hair. It got me this job, Ma, where I still get $65 a week in spite of the depression. And I’m in line for promotion to chief office secretary, if Mr. Weeks goes to Washington.” Jack knowingly suppresses his fractional blackness for the sake of white honors that are exemplified in his profession. Perceptibly, if he were unequivocally black, he would not savor any pecuniary and vocational honors which are totally for the whites. Jack’s resolves gather that he is positive that blackness is substandard, so curbing it in favor of whiteness would profit him more.
