LANGSTON HUGHES
CORA UNASHAMED
"She had been in Melton for forty years. Born there. Would die there probably. She worked for the Studevants, who treated her like a dog. She stood it. Had to stand it; or work for poorer white folks who would treat her worse; or go jobless. Cora was like a tree -- once rooted, she stood, in spite of storms and strife, wind, and rocks, in the earth.
She was the Studevants' maid of all work -- washing, ironing, cooking, scrubbing, taking care of kids, nursing old folks, making fires, carrying water.
Cora, bake three cakes for Mary's birthday tomorrow night. You Cora, give Rover a bath in that tar soap I bought. Cora, take Ma some jello, and don't let her have even a taste of that raisin pie. She'll keep us up all night if you do. Cora, iron my stockings. Cora, come here... Cora, put... Cora... Cora... Cora! Cora!
And Cora would answer, "Yes, m'am."
Description: Cora Unashamed is a caricature of a typical working class Black woman living in the South. Hughes depicts Cora as a resilient and hard-working woman who understands the structure of the society she lived in and follows the rules expected of her.
Explanation: While the Northern states were much more inclusive to Black people, Southern states continued to try to segregate Black people as much as they could. The South established a rigid social hierarchy where black people were at the lowest echelon. Cora is one such woman who works tirelessly without complaint for a white family in the South.
Evaluation: Hughes was well known for his ability to make the everyday aspects of life into larger than life stories. Cora Unashamed is no exception to this and Hughes uses his eloquent style to depict the life and struggles of a working class Black woman in the South.
Analysis: For Blacks in the South, the 1920's were anything, but roaring. However, they could not be classified as boring either. The 1920's in the South served as the bridge between Reconstruction and the Civil Rights movement. The 1920's were a necessary dark time between Black complacency and revolution.