Overshadowed: A Novel

by Sutton E. (Sutton Elbert) Griggs

"Overshadowed: A Novel" by Sutton E. Griggs is a work of fiction written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Erma Wysong, a young Negro woman grappling with her identity in a society that treats her and her people with prejudice and hostility. The novel explores themes of race, class, and the struggle for self-recognition against the backdrop of societal expectations and limitations. At the start of the narrative, Erma is depicted as a troubled soul, conflicted by her emotions and the harsh realities of her life as a member of a marginalized group. She is introduced in her parlor, where she paces restlessly, lost in thought as she contemplates her future and her feelings for a young man named Astral Herndon. The opening chapters reveal her descent into despair upon realizing the societal disdain for her decision to seek employment in servitude, reflecting the internalized beliefs about race and the stigma attached to labor. Griggs sets the stage for a tragic exploration of Erma's struggles as she attempts to reconcile her aspirations with the oppressive societal structures that overshadow her existence.