AS SIGNIFICAÇÕES DO COLORISMO NA CONSTRUÇÃO DA IDENTIDADE NEGRA EM O OLHO MAIS AZUL, DE TONI MORRISON.

Abstract

This research aims to analyze and understand how colorism, together with other systems of oppression, impact the experiences of black communities in The Bluest Eye (1970), a novel by African-American writer and professor Toni Morrison. The book tells the story of Pecola Breedlove, an eleven-year-old black girl who suffers many discrimination and abuse from society and the community that she lives in for the color of her skin. Due to the oppression, after being influenced by eurocentric standards of beauty and having her identity denied, Pecola ends up going mad; It leads her to destruction. Considering this scenario, for this research, we carry out a mapping of Pecola Breedlove, Maureen Peal and Claudia MacTeer relationships with society in order to analyze the impacts of colorism in the construction of their identities. To achieve these objectives, we contextualize the historical and political context of social movements during the 1960s and 1970s in the United States, for this was the time the author wrote and published the novel. Then, we briefly explore the origins, meanings, and permanence of colorism, especially within the african-american community, examining its causes and consequences in today's society. Moreover, we discuss the novel, mapping colorism through the narratives of the main characters. Finally, we make our final remarks, observing Claudia's reflection as the voice of Toni Morrison, making a critique of north-american society, stating that the survival of the black community to the systems of oppression is only possible through knowledge and connection with the culture, values, traditions, and roots of its people.