Black Women's Participation In The Civil Rights Movement

Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment. Ed. By Patricia Hill Collins. (New York: Routledge, 2000. ii, 336 pp. Cloth, $128.28, ISBN 0-415-92483-9. Paper, $26.21, 0-415-92484-7.)

In Elise Johnson McDougald’s essay “The Task of Negro Womanhood,” she elaborates on the difficulties of being a black, working woman in society. In order to understand the struggles of a black woman in America, “one must have in mind not any one Negro woman, but rather a colorful pageant of individuals, each differently endowed” (McDougald, 103). This is because to be able to understand the problems they face as individuals one must think of black women as a collective unit. McDougald focuses on the women living in Harlem because they are more free and have more opportunity to succeed than in the rest of the United States. Though they are considered more

Black Woman Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study, that examines gender as a social and cultural construct, the social status and contributions of women, and the relationships between power and gender. Women are held to this standard of being the one to cook, clean, cater to her spouse and care for the children but it should be more than that. When women go above their expectations, they are accused as being wrong and are sometimes told to not pursue their dreams. Women should be held on the same scale as men in society, this method could prevent gender issues.

The gender bias found in relation to leadership in the civil rights movement often excludes African-American women’s contributions as being of less importance and prominence; however, in hindsight informal leaders were on equal level with formal leaders and bridge leaders served an important function resulting from exclusion.

The Progressive Movement of 1901 to 1917 began as a result of the abuse and suffrage African American endures at the hand of those in power. The period of the progressive era many reformers believed the difficultly people encountered such as racism, violence, poverty, health care was as a result of the lack of education that was available. As America became more industrialize women reacted to the turmoil that it brings with by connecting together to form organization both at the local and national level. Women step up to the place and played major roles in order to bring changes to the general welfare and improve social integrity.

African American women have been major actors in social activism since their arrival in the Americas. They have used various strategies like writing articles and books, organizing demonstrations and more to create cultural change. Using the pressure of racism and sexism, African American women created a space for a unique form of leadership that encapsulated both cultural and political, more formally know as bridge leadership.

During the 1960s, living off one income had become increasingly more difficult to continue living a comfortable lifestyle with the rise in economic demands. Therefore, forcing many American women to begin seeking jobs in the workforce. However, many qualified women were quickly looked over by men, some with fewer years of experience and education. Potential employers felt that women would not be able to face the stress that went along with work. So 1964, the United States enacted Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq. (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) This act is very well-known, prohibiting harassment in the workplace and discrimination. A few years later, on October 31, 1978, President Jimmy

During the Civil Rights Movement it was important for African-American organizations not to demonstrate the same separatist philosophy that they were fighting against. However, the newer members of the SNCC believed that having White civil rights workers within the organization devalued the cause. The newer members believed that the White civil rights workers lacked an understanding behind the history of the cause, and was protesting for different reasons. During this time, White women in particular appeared to more naive about the danger of segregation, especially for the African-American men. The majority of the White women who came from the North during the Summer to help support the cause endangered the lives of many African-American

The author(s) identifies the importance of Black women standing up and fighting for their own liberation, not only because they are the only ones willing to put in the strenuous time and effort

African American women have a long history of being political activists. African American foremothers, such as: Frances E.W. Harper, Maria Stewart, Sarah Mapps Douglass, Sarah Parker Remond, Harriet Jacobs, Mary Ann Shadd Cary, and Ida B. Wells were fighting for racial, social, and gender equality since slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation. Whether it is in print culture or in public culture African American women have continuously protested the treatment of African Americans and women in America. Yet, the presence of women (especially African American women) was not welcomed in America’s public domain. In fact, it deviated from acceptable gender roles. Women on the public stage receiving spotlight for their resistance against

Civil rights have always been an issue in the American society, which has been proven over the years by all of the prejudice comments made by white people. Negros were forced to drink out of different water fountains, use different bathrooms, and were overall treated as lesser people. Since the creation of the United States negros have either been slaves or segregated throughout our country's history, even today at some places people don't treat African Americans with the respect that they should receive. Even though the change has exceeded tremendously it is still far from perfect. Martin Luther King Junior was a key aspect to our society in pushing towards equality. During the civil rights movement there were many individuals who also helped the cause such as Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, and other significant figures that are well known today. There is a wide variety of feats that our nation as one, needs to surpass in order to be equal.

Despite the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment which guarantees suffrage to all American citizens, many states prior to 1960s still took measures to hinder African Americans from voting. Two such measures are the literacy test, in conjunction with the grandfather clause, and poll taxes. Many states administered literacy tests that set the standard unreasonably high for blacks while rarely administering them to whites. Some states went as far as exempting whites from taking the tests through the grandfather clause, which stated that persons whose grandfathers were eligible to vote in 1860 were not required to take the tests. Therefore, while both illiterate and literate whites were allowed to register vote, hardly any African Americans could

The living conditions for African Americans play a big factor when talking about disparities in poverty. The highest poverty rates are in the inner city, where the majority of minorities live compared to Whites that live in the suburbs on the outskirts. According to Carlos Gradin (2012), African Americans were 45% more likely to live in a female-headed family without a spouse present, compared to 20% for Whites. Furthermore, “beginning in the late 1960’s, there was a drastic increase in minority divorces”(Snyder and McLaughlin 2004). Poverty rises as the heads of households’ decrease, which is happening in the inner city. These mothers have to support an

With having such a direct focal point (Black women), readers could easily forget that these injustices were happening to all types of women such as: disabled, poor, and other non-white communities. As I read, I craved for a surer tone from Dorothy Roberts much like the tone of Angela Davis’ work. Ultimately, I wish the text present a solution plan for women in the United States. Our problem is due to unorganized

In history, women have always struggled to gain equality, respect, and the same rights as men. Women had had to endure years of sexism and struggle to get to where we are today. The struggle was even more difficult for women of color because not only were they dealing with issues of sexism, but also racism. Many movements have helped black women during the past centuries to overcome sexism, racism, and adversities that were set against them. History tells us that movements such as the Feminist Movement helped empower all women, but this fact is not totally true. In this paper, I will discuss feminism, the movements, and its "minimal" affects on black women.