In The Color Purple, by Alice Walker, the situation of Black American in the 1900's, is a delicate circumstance in which similar problems of their predecessor are still in effect although, evolved in an indirect way. African enslavement began in 1492 and yet at the turn of the nineteenth century, African Americans were being freed in a general sense by law; however, not in society, and were slaves in their own culture. The more traditional problem that affected Blacks was the difference in skin coloring that was still had a lasting effect that resulted in indirect segregation. For example, Celie and Olivia’s mother are obviously treated poorly by a White man, yet are only to address him with respect, “She say, Yes sir. I want five yards, please