Their Eyes Were Watching God- Nanny

Nanny was a main character in the beginning of Their Eyes Were Watching God. Her name was Nanny Crawford, and everyone loved her. She was like a grandmother to everyone, and that is why they called her "Nanny." Nanny was all Janie had her whole life. Nanny was not only her grandmother, but her mom pretty much too. Janie's real mom, Leafy Crawford, ran away after giving birth to Janie, and Nanny took over from there. Janie never got to meet her real mother or father. Nanny had been through slavery, and all of her experiences as a slave affected her everyday, and she taught Janie a lot from her experiences. Nannie was always worried about money, and also being respected as a African American. Nanny thought about all the slave things she went through everyday. She went through a lot while being a slave, and when Janie was sixteen she heard about it all. Nannie actually got pregnant with Leafy when her slave master raped her. The master's wife wanted Nannie whipped to death for getting pregnant by her husband, but Nannie escaped and hid in swamps with Leafy until the Civil War was over. She then lived with the Washburns, and she worked for them. Nannie dreamed of a better life for Leafy, but that ended when Leafy was raped by a school teacher. That was when Leafy ran away. Nannie raised Janie playing with the Washburn kids. They were white though, and Janie thought she was a white kid, until she saw a photograph of herself one day. Janie always got made fun of at school for living with white people, and playing with them. Nanny was so good to her, that she bought a new house just for them, so Janie would not have to worry about being made fun of anymore. Nanny was such a good woman. She taught Janie a lot, and Janie always had Nannie in the back of her mind. Janie was always thankful everyday that she had a grandmother like Nanny to take care of her. She was glad Nanny teached her all she did, and always hoped and was thankful that she never had to go through all that Nanny did.