You looked at them and wondered why the were so ugly; you looked closely and could not find the source. Then you realized that it came from conviction, their conviction. It was as though some mysterious all-knowing master had given each one a cloak of ugliness to wear, and they had each accepted it without question. The mast had said, "You are ugly people." They had looked about themselves and saw nothing to contradict the statement; saw, in fact, support for it leaning at them from every billboard, every movie, every glance. "Yes," they had said. "You are right."
The passage reflects on the perception of beauty and the internalization of societal standards. It describes how individuals may view others as ugly, not because of their physical appearance but due to a deep-seated conviction they seem to embody. This ugliness stems from a belief imposed upon them by an unseen authority, leading them to accept a negative self-image.
Morrison illustrates how these people, upon witnessing the world around them—reinforced by media and societal expectations—completely embrace this negative identity. They conclude that the perception of their ugliness is valid, showing how powerful societal influences can shape one's self-worth and perception of beauty.
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