Toomer and West were writing during the Harlem Renaissance Period and life for African Americans had drastically changed. While they were still not valued as citizens, they were forging paths and challenging societal norms.
Using both Toomer and West, discuss aspects of the short stories that exhibit the hope that African Americans had that seemingly collided with the forces of the culture. What roadblocks are present in each text that reveal the restrictions on people of color and the different societal codes.