How does Alice Walker discuss various cultural issues that faced America during the era of the story?

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How does Alice Walker discuss various cultural issues that faced America during the era of the story?

Religion, music and history make up the culture and tradition in the story.

For the black music is a way of life, a way of defining there culture and community. They couldn't read or write or paint so they sang. This started off in churches when they sang the blues and eventually black jazz clubs became popular. When segregation was in place the whites used to go and socialize in the jazz clubs at night and then go back to segregation.

Jazz developed from 'the blues'. The blues is a product of slavery. In order to relieve their misery the slaves sang the blues in the fields. This evolved into the jazz, which Gracie Mae sings. Jazz is sexy and seductive music and life as we see from the story was tough yet glamorous for jazz singers. Gracie may was violently beaten by her husbands who also stole her clothes, but this inevitably led to her becoming a strong woman. We see this when she fights with Bessie smith for her song hound dog and wins.

Ironically though