literary interpretation

My own view of myself may be different than how others view me.  I could be way more critical of myself than anyone actually is of me.  My point is that people judge themselves more harshly because they believe that's what others are doing about them.  Pecola desperately wanted to have beautiful blue eyes because she thought that having blue eyes would make people see her in a different, and better way.  

There is the fact that she was black and that there were prejudices set against her, but she made a mistake when she let it change her opinion of herself.  Jin Wang did the same thing.  He seemed constantly paranoid that we was going to be pushed into the role of the stereotypical Asian and not be seen for who he was.  His defense?  He changed himself (of course Pecola's tale was more realistic and she couldn't change herself, but that's exactly what she wanted to do). 

That youtube video about the black or white preference in dolls is interesting and in a way sad.  I thought that because psychologically we prefer things that resemble ourselves, that the children would choose the baby that was most like them.  I know that I would have chosen the white baby.  I have this memory from a few years ago when I was playing barbies with a friend (who was black).  She had Barbies in both black and white.  I basically have white Barbies, unless you counted Pocahontas or Jasmine.  I was just raised that way, and I didn't know there was anything better.  I didn't buy my dolls, my family or friends did.  I feel that so many factors play into that experiment, such as that child's background, experiences, or who they are surrounded by.  

I have to go, but I'll try to expand more later.