Meridian: A Study of Women’s Sexual Exploitation

Abstract

Meridian traces the moral and psychological development of Walker’s title character, Meridian Hill. Born into a middle-class southern black family, Meridian is taught to accept the racist and sexist status of the 1950’s. She is not encouraged to question the sexist traditions, or her own sexual exploitation- all of which deny her autonomy. Such bitter experiences teach Meridian to be the audacious and courageous African American woman. She is seen constantly in the process of defining herself against male dominated society. She tries to break the white racist construction of superiority, black male’s rapist mind and white female superiority.