Throughout time there has been racial prejudice and racism that people have had to endure. Some people must endure it in their everyday life whether they notice it or not. In the short story of Welty "A Worn Path," symbolically demonstrates the difficulties that colored Americans had to endure due to their ethnicity. Racism is portrayed in "The Worn Path" " towards Phoenix in which plays a part on her relationships and interactions with others and her self. Not only is racism portrayed in the characters actions and attitudes but also it demonstrates the theme of impending black equality. This story symbolically demonstrates the journey that colored people need to overcome to be able to achieve equality between other races. Although time has passed since Phoenix was in slavery, her society exhibits the racist attitudes towards her through out her journey. Race can affect on how people can treat you and even in how you interpret yourself. Whether people want to acknowledge it or not, but race does play a part in on how people see us throughout our daily lives. .
Phoenix Jackson is introduced immediately as an old Negro woman, with an image of her wearing her hair tied in a red rag. The image of her wearing her hair like this is a typical stereotype image of the slave era. From the beginning the author is illustrating that her ethnicity and appearance will affect her on the journey as her image is typical of her race. On her way to town, Phoenix says while climbing up the tiresome hill that runs through the path, "Seem like there is chains about my feet, time I get this far. " (Welty A Worn Path) This is an example of how slaves were confined, in which she remembers from her years of being a slave. Interpreting her words signals out that even after color people were freed they were still being confined into being treated unequal. She also notes, "Something always take a hold of me on this hill pleads I should stay.