Topic Proposal #3

I have decided to write about Becky by Jean Toomer because it revolves around a topic that has played an important role in the growth and unity around the world, including our own country. I have found the historical and cultural connections to the work to be the issue of interracial relations. Seeing as how the story was written in the 1920s, interracial relationships were not tolerated in the American culture. As a matter of fact, this took place even before integration acts were being forced within some states. The connection made between past issues in my own culture and the issue covered in the story help me to better understand it. In the story, both whites and blacks disagreed with Becky's actions, and both races had something to say about it. The theme revolves around the issue that is being faced in the community, and how the culture affects it. I am going to research more about both blacks and whites living in the same community during this time, as well as how prevalent interracial relationships were in the society.
Thesis: The community reacts to an issue in a way that reflects the beliefs and norms of the culture. We see how this done through the central theme of the story, which is the cultural denouncement of interracial relationships, and how the society responds to this issue.