Anyone who looked more white folkish than herself was better than she was in her criteria, therefore it was right that they should be cruel to her at times, just as she was cruel to those more negroid than herself in direct ratio to their negroness. . insensate cruelty to those you can whip, and groveling submission to those you can’t. once having set up her idols and built altars to them it was inevitable that she would worship there. which aspect of early 20th-century society does hurston emphasize through the character of mrs. turner? people formed bonds based on their commonalities. people were judged based on their skin color. people were only permitted to practice certain religions. people came together to work toward equality.