Janie is an independent African American woman who grows up with a grandmother who is determined to keep her from the sexual and racial violence of her own past. Janie's first marriage is filled with hard labor, so she runs off with Joe, a handsome and wealthy storekeeper. Joe becomes mayor of the all-black town of Eatonville, Florida, but Janie is still unfulfilled by her new relationship. After Joe's death, she lives with another man who brings passion into her world, if not stability. Soon tragedy strikes and Janie learns to face it head-on with optimism and strength.
