During the early years of the twentieth century racism swarmed the country. White men inflicted violence upon African Americans while humiliating them, only to stand superior to the blacks. Sadly, this behavior demeaned the black man and left him powerless. The harmful treatment imposed on the black community was emasculating to the men and triggered a sense of dominance in them. The embarrassment inflicted by the whites, essentially caused blacks to demand respect in their homes, whether it be from their wives or their children. This sense of aggression and empowerment resulted in the rise of domestic violence among the blacks. Women became powerless and defenseless during this era. Zora Neale Hurston reveals the horror of a woman subjected to domestic abuse during the 1930s in her story, “Sweat,” using themes of folklore, religion, and oppression. Folklore is the traditional beliefs, myths, and practices of people. Customs are spread throughout communities and passed down through generations. Living in the south, many blacks continue to be offended by the ways of white people and empower themselves by engaging in domestic abuse. Delia, the protagonist in “Sweat,” is a victim of these cruel actions. The residents of Eatonville, Florida do not agree with the behavior of Sykes, Delia’s oppressive husband. The men gossiping at the local general store state that “there oughter be a law about [Sykes]” in regards to how he treats his wife (Hurston 4). This reveals that the men can see the evil of Sykes and the damage he has inflicted on Delia. Even though these men do not like the way Sykes treats Delia, they abide by the cultural standards, making no effort to aid Delia in her hardship. Therefore, because there will be no help from the locals or the law, Delia must act on her own intuition to free herself from the cruel works of Sykes. Within the story “Sweat,” there are glimpses of religious imagery. Delia is a washerwo