The writers, Zora Neale Hurston and Frantz Fanon, describe the consciousness of the black subject in a world of white power. They both shared information about racial barriers with sympathetic readers who wish to tolerate differences. For Hurston recounted her experience as a black woman in her essay “How it feels to be colored me.” She came from a completely isolated community of color, which makes her unable to understand that not everyone in the world is treated the same. At the age of her thirteenth she gradually became aware of her color as “It is exclusively a colored town” (1928). But she tried to accept her identity, not her black complexion. According to Hurston she thought that being black will not have any influence on her as “BUT I AM NOT tragically colored […] do not mind at all.” She believed that this world is suitable for people who have strong abilities, embrace their lives and value their skin colors. She even believed that race is not a basic characteristic that people are born with but appears in a specific social environment. Hurston included that she didn’t have time to sad about her blackness as “No, I do not weep at the world- I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.” She meant that she was so busy in pursuing her happiness and positive life.

For Fanon also related to his experience of being black in his essay “The fact of blackness.” He mentioned at the beginning of the essay as “I turned beseechingly to others. Their attention was liberation, running over my body suddenly abraded into nonbeing” which showed the statement of his nonexistence because of the environmental discrimination. He argued that black have experienced as their beings were seen by others instead of themselves. Fanon desires is to discover his own identity, strength and existence, so as to become his true identity. According to Fanon, “I sit down at the fire and I become aware of my uniform. I had not seen it. It is indeed ugly. I stop there, for who can tell me what beauty is.” He is desperately trying to find some framework to understand himself. All he has to do is to become a person who belongs to the world and can help the whole person as he grows. As the critical examination of Farnon is the psychological influence of racism, especially the influence of colonial subjects. However, Hurston analyzed for deep-rooted colorism and quality skin in the African American community. Everything she proved to be white power and repression of blacks.

Although these two authors are talking about the racism for people with colored, but I can feel empathy to the characters’ feeling. When I first came to the US, I know that I have to start living in a diverse society with different color of people, but I didn’t think any more about it and even forget about the racial different. But now, as the COVID-19 occurs, I am started aware of how society views on my race as Asian especially Chinese. In the article, Hurston perfectly states about the complex sense and feeling of individual when people become aware of their race. Instead of people are fighting against each other based on their skin color or race, should unite together and fight against all difficulties including the pandemic.

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