Zora Neale Hurston, in her autobiography Dust Tracks on a Road, enriches our sense of her childhood not only using lush descriptive imagery that paints a romanticized portrait of a once innocent life free from racial prejudice, but also of the harsh reality of the contrast between the contrasting mentalities of her unsubmissive though socially reckless mother and her reality-hardened father of racism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Hurston begins the passage by describing the almost utopian landscape of his Southern home, taking note of the hundreds of "fleshy, white, fragrant" jasmine flowers along the entryway and the abundance of fruit, chicken, homemade meat and eggs that she and her siblings had access to in their backyard. His heavy use of the word “abundance” and romanization of the living conditions in Hurston's home reflect every child's awe and wonder at the presence of something unlimited in number, even common foods. Hurston describes how much of his childhood was spent at home, which explains the fascination he had with very "rare" apples or beef stew that came from Dad's trip to Orlando or up North. Hurston also acknowledges the unbridled joy and enthusiasm of her younger self through the retelling of her and her siblings passing the time with cheerful moments of play. He recounts the times he played "hide and scream, chick-meh-chick, and other rowdy games" with several other children, continuing the lighthearted description of innocent childhood imagination. However, later in the passage, Hurston shifts to a slightly darker aspect. tone as he reveals the contrast between his mother and father. Hurston was encouraged by her mother to "jump up", to keep her "sassy tongue" and her "stiff neck" rather than turn into a submissive little girl. Her father was the exact opposite, constantly warning Hurston of white people and the dangers that await her and of her resistance to becoming a "meat-mouthed rag doll." This introduction of conflict turns the passage in a darker, but more realistic direction; Hurston's childhood was beginning to be threatened by the presence of the white man. Hurston expresses her past confusion with her father's anger. He speaks distantly of the impending threat, understating the reality of the situation by calling his father “not so confident” and saying that “it wasn't very good for niggers to have too much spirit.” It would make sense that Hurston would not understand the severity of racial prejudice as a child; he had spent his entire life sheltered within an all-black community with a mother who was equally sheltered within an all-black community.