Margot Shetterly's Hidden Figures

To be a woman meant that one had no say in regards to political affairs or in government making decisions. If being a woman had limitations, imagine what a black woman experienced, as they were considered less than human and mistreated more than any other female from any different background. In “A Plea for the Oppressed”, Lucy Stanton, one such black woman, tried to avail her people’s plight upon an audience of white women, to support the antislavery and reform cause.

The most common ways women of different ethnicities were held back were by being barred from certain jobs. Black, and Latina women were not allowed to work in the southern textile industry, or hold a secretarial job like many white women did. Instead they were forced to become maids, and laundresses. (Schaller 594) Another example of the lack of improvement for women in minorities is the percentage of young Italian girls who were withdrawn from school, in order for them to help support their family. Roughly 90% left school at the age of 14 to find work. (Schaller 629) Even though white women were steadily making progress towards equality with their own organizations, african american women did not see such immediate progress. So they decided to create their own similar groups such as the National Association of Colored Women. This group took its stance on it’s own separate set of issues such as lynching, and defending the respect of black women. (Schaller 686) Ida B. Wells, a founding member of the NAACP took the lead on the lynchings, her crusade lead her to flee the south before she eventually settled down in Chicago. She continued to receive death threats had she returned to Memphis but, she continued her campaign and ended up taking it abroad.  There she would form London’s Anti-Lynching Committee, this would causes waves all the way to Memphis, where

All of the primary documents deal with how the war affect racial minorities and women on the homefront during an immediately after the war. Men went off to fight the war, and many of the white men who went off to fight in the war left open millions of open job positions. These job gaps were filled by racial minorities and women. The documents suggest that the civilian attitude on the homefront was the beginning of changes for many minority groups.

African-American women have often been an overlooked group with the larger context of American Society. Historically, oppression has been meted out to the African-American woman in two ways. Historically, everything afforded to African-American, from educational and employment opportunities to health care have been sub-par. As women they have been relegated even further in a patriarchal society that has always, invariably, held men in higher regard.

During American involvement in the war, African Americans were listed and reenlisted on the military draft at higher rates than any other nationalities including whites and Latin-Americans (Westheider 9). As a result, more African Americans than any othe r minority fought and died in combat. In addition, they constantly faced racism. One militant protested forcefully against the unfair conditions: “You should see for yourself how the black man is being treated over here and the ay we are dying. When it comes to rank, we are left out. When it comes to special privileges, we are left out. When it comes to patrols, perataions and so forth, we are first” (Gallagher). According to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., black youths represented an unequal share of early draftees and faced a significantly higher chance of seeing combat. “Rumors abounded that the U.S. government were using the Vietnam War as a form of genocide. Money was being pumped into Vietnam instead of poor black communities in America” (Gallegher).

African Americans soldier were limited to cooking, cleaning, or shoe shining just because their skin color was black. They wanted to fight for democracy which caused extreme racism. Also, African American women, who were working back at home to support the soldiers, were being discriminated. Pittsburgh Courier, an African American newspaper, in document 3 demonstrates that African Americans are being discriminated not only at home, even in the middle of the war. Also, according to document 5, African American soldiers couldn’t get coffee from the same snot of white soldiers.This shows that the homefront experience during World War II did not expand the freedoms and opportunities available to Americans. The audience in document 5 is

In World War II, all different races served in the military branches all over the world. There was a lot of racism going on throughout this period, with any race, but especially at this time it was happening with African Americans. African Americans struggled to be able to fight for their rights just to be able to protect their country. There are a lot of significant things concerning race that happened during WWII. Even though, the WWII did have a higher rate of blacks who had enlisted into the military. They still had segregated the troops not even just that it was their social life, church services, different functions; they were all segregated from each other. Earlier in the war, black soldiers

Wether it was recruitment, mobilization, or obtaining and securing resources, African American women were the backbone and the unsung heros of these movements. “Given the context of the times, the period 1954-65, women who participated in the civil rights movement experienced unprecedented power” (Robnett 1996).

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

Besides discrimination in pay African Americans were always assigned to labourer works rather than combat assignments. African Americans had to face discrimination in fooding, clothing restrooms, bathrooms and even with the arms, their life is considered as less important than the life 's of whites. Even after death their families and their children 's were kept away from the compensation or other rehabilitating and readjustment policies.

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

Throughout history Black Women have faced discrimination based on gender and race. When black men were granted the right to vote with the passage of the 15th amendment women remained disenfranchised, however, when women were granted the right to vote under the 19th amendment black women remained disenfranchised in most areas due to Jim Crow laws. In modern times, black women still face enormous discrimination often within both minority groups represented. However, racial equality has always trumped gender equality because white women are viewed less inferior than backs because of white privilege. In the article Black Women Should Seek Gender Equality by Pauli Murray, she argues that gender discrimination is a larger problem in both American society and the Civil Right Movement.

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.

Society continues to nurture these depriving situations and demonstrate lack of concern towards black women by not celebrating them for the roles they played in the movements. Taylor (1998) asserted that, “despite the fact that the most celebrated leaders of the modern civil rights movements were men, African American women participated at every stage in the struggle for justice and equality” (239). Although black women were not in public eyes during these movements, it was their vision and organizing roles they played that helped in the progression of many liberation movements.