Marxist Critical Lens Experts: 2

For this Blog I had read the article: Bigotry, Breast Milk, Bric-a-Brac, a Baby, and a Bit in "Beloved" Toni Morrison's Portrayal of Racism and Hegemony. From what I have read this article mainly focuses on how racism was ingrained in the time that Beloved was based in, and how this racism had affected the very people it was intended to oppress. One of the most memorable parts was how the author had referenced how Morrison described that People of Color had to determine the different types of White People, and how some of them were out to make them feel like they were less than human, like the Schoolteacher, and some who were part of oppressive groups like the Klu Klux Klan. One of the main things of this article was the intense institutionalized racism, how it was in place to make African Americans feel like they were unequal to those that were white. One of the acts that was mentioned that amplifies this claim is the one in particular where Schoolteachers' nephews has "milked" Sethe, by forcing her into an act that was only to be done to animals was meant to break Sethe feel like she was worth less than a person, clearly showing how intense the racism was at the time. This also illuminates the harsh realities that many African Americans had to suffer through, really making the dedication at the beginning of Beloved much more powerful. Like the previous Interpretation I had read, I there were no claims that were similar to the ones I had made in previous entries, but while I do agree with the ones that are being presented in this one, I do not think that the Author was going in to highlight the Marxist themes that could be interpreted in Beloved.