This novel takes place in the fall of 1941 and the main character is a young 11 year old Black girl who is dealing with inferiority issues pertaining to her African/Black physical features. She prays for her brown eyes to turn blue so that she will seen as beautiful and attractive like blond, blue-eyed children are seen. From the onset the US has been a race conscious society and European features (White skin, blond, straight hair and blue eyes) have always been held up as the standard of beauty. Simultaneously, African features (dark skin, thick/curly dark hair, brown/black eyes) were viewed as unattractive and ugly. So naturally it is inevitable that “colorisms” would exist & result in feelings of self hate and issues of low self-esteem in some Black children/people. Morrison explores these themes as only she can, with depth & insight into internalized racial inferiority from a child’s mind & perspective! “Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison powerfully examines our obsession with beauty and conformity—and asks questions about race, class, and gender with her characteristic subtly and grace.” (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/117662/the-bluest-eye-by-toni-morrison/)
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