The Challenges Of African American Women

I do believe that any obstacle or disadvantage can turn into something good. I know this because people learn from their mistakes. Some people give up or lose hope when they are encountering an obstacle. Anything can be make up by thinking or a wise decision.

The aim of the thesis is to analyze and discuss the African American women`s quest for voice, acceptance and fulfilment. The analysis will be based on three selected novels, namely, Their Eyes Were Watching God, The Color Purple and Beloved. Since their authors - Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker all - experienced some difficulties in their life related to the subject matter of the thesis, their biographies will be sketched, too. The analysis focuses especially on three women who are the protagonists of the selected novels. Their personal and social problems will be juxtaposed within the context of the criticism selected for the purpose of this thesis.

By 1815, slavery within America was already institutionalised affecting the majority of African Americans; by 1860, there were 3.5 to 4.4 million enslaved African Americans as a result of the Atlantic Slave Trade in comparison to the 488,000–500,000 free African Americans. The Emancipation Proclamation (1863) freed all enslaved African Americans; nonetheless, African Americans were still considered inferior. Especially African American women who were treated significantly worse- sexually exploited, rejected by various southern suffragette groups as well as the National Woman Suffrage Association which opposed the 15th Amendment, enabling African American men to vote, fearing the setback it could cause women in obtaining the vote. Historian Deborah Gray White highlighted the status of being an African American woman stating that being "Black in a white society, slave in a free society, woman in a society ruled by men, female slaves had the least formal power and were perhaps the most vulnerable group of antebellum America." From 1815 to 1917, the lives of white women improved economically, socially and politically. Nevertheless, the improvement of African American women could be questioned. Therefore, this essay will focus on how the lives of African American women from 1815 to 1917 were marked by continuity rather than a period of change and improvement.

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.

From Africa to America, African American women have embraced the spirit of creativity and survival. For years the black woman has been the backbone of our culture. It was our faith and positive spirits that played a great part in surviving slavery and being treated as second class citizens during the Civil Rights Movement. Now as we enter the 21st century, it is time to exert our strengths at a new level. The African American woman's role is to grow and prosper in business, support and be active in her community, maintain a strong family foundation, be spiritually grounded and to emend our health.

African American women advocate for social change in the Progressive Era by forming and participating in an organization that advocates for women suffrage, racial violence, and improvement of social conditions.

The Civil War overall affected African American women in many ways. While they were forced some wanted to take advance of the opportunity to do something to gain their freedom decided to join the war. However they would serve as spies and nurses and some other tasks. Many women’s took the new role at home after their husbands, brothers, and fathers responded to the call of the military of the United States. A lot of enslaved women began the transition to freedom, beginning new lives during the terrors caused by the war. When the war’s end, the overwhelming death of approximately 620,000 soldiers had left numerous women in devastated, ,heath broken ,and compared to previous age of time where it was dominated once again one of the most bloody

lthough the enslaved women were married, their husbands could not protect them because of the control that the masters had over both spouses. Many times, due to rape and sexual intercourses between the slave and masters, both white and African American women had to keep their pregnancies hidden and they were not allowed to speak on who the father of the babies were. Often times black women would rebel against their masters because they felt it was morally wrong and often like "their ancestors and counterparts of Africa, most slave women took their motherhood seriously. They put this responsibilities before their own safety and freedom, provided for children not their own, and gave love even to those babies born from violence." (Hallam, 2004) . If a enslaved women, who had children, were to tell who the child's

Angelia Emily Grimké, a sister, a wife, a women’s right advocate, and a women who fought tirelessly against slavery. Grimké held her composure in hostile crowds, even as stones were casted out, and harsh words cut into the dust filled air. This strong independent woman fought for those who could not fight for themselves. She lived in a time when women were encouraged to keep their heads low and their opinions kept to themselves. Grimké worked along with her sister to fight for rights that at the time did not come easily. In today’s world, the thought of women and the African American race having little input in the government or day to day living is disturbing. Americans take great pride in having a voice and the ability they have to use that voice at any time of any day. Unfortunately these times were not always easy to come by. People like Angelia Grimké paved the way for those rights and the overall rights of equality. She accomplished this by expressing her opinion and beliefs to those who were not always willing to agree. Grimké and many like her fought the hard fight and did not give in when they were outnumbered. Grimké came from a slave owning family in the south; therefore, she saw firsthand the effects of slavery. Into Grimké’s adult life, she moved north and further developed her beliefs through her relationship with God and devotion to her Bible, as well as, historical documents like the Constitution. These developed beliefs seen in her published

The majority of African American women have a college level education and work in white collar jobs, “over 64% of African American women … are white collar workers” (Deshay). while news and other media sources would try to tell you otherwise. This means that the majority works in high level jobs, for example CEOs, doctors and professers. Another key point to this is the fact that African American women are an important section of business owners that created their business on their own, “97% of African American women who owned businesses were sole proprietors” (Holmes). This means that African American women own their own businesses. This shows through the challenges, that African American women work to get to their white-collar jobs and businesses. In addition to this, there have been a lot of female African American celebrities and politicians. For instance, Shirley Chisholm was the first African American lady to be elected into the United States congress. Condoleezza Rice was the United States Secretary of State in 2005 – 2009. Another example is well known celebrity Beyoncé. These women have shown that African American women can and have held power and become role models. This juxtaposes how life was in the 1930s, where these magnificent ladies wouldn’t have had the chance to mold the

After the seminary days, the women church ministers encounter numerous challenges as they begin and carry on with their professional career. In modern African American churches, women’s’ leadership has shifted from the typical roles as leaders of women in missionary societies and groups to congregational leaders like pastoral ministry and Christian education. In the current paper, the focus is on the problems single women minister, pastor, preacher faces with dating or being in a relationship and not married. The paper first briefly explores the contemporary women leadership in African American churches, encumbrances to effective women’s leadership, approaches to solving the obstacles, notable contributions of African American women and lastly signs of hope and encouragement.

How would it feel to change genders? I can see the benefit of being both a male and a female. Peeing while standing up is a nice perk that I will never know, but being forced to suppress my emotions might be too much to handle. How would it feel to change skin tones? Like I said before, there is good and bad in every situation imaginable. How would it feel to change families? Would one grow up believing differently than they do now? Would one still identify as Republican or Democrat? As a young, African American female, I feel that being African American is the defining character of my identity. There are sets backs that I must overcome under this identity, but there are also new places and possibilities I have the right, willingness, and

The United States prides itself on being a land of opportunities, and in many ways it is. We look at countries like South Africa, which not long ago was segregated through the laws of Apartheid, and we are glad that we are so much further along than the land of Mandela. However, every now and then we need to stop and ask ourselves just how far along we really are, and we have to wonder if many of the once oppressed countries we helped free are not passing us up in the area of civil rights and opportunity.

African American women, often perceived as a sexual object or the Jezebel (the stereotype of white man view of the black woman as loose and over-sexed) have struggled to eliminate images that promote sexual exploitation such as their promiscuity (showing off their breast, behind, legs, and showing much of their skin on television, music videos and magazines) through the use of feminist movements and the creation of the womanist movement. However, in modern day society, black women have accepted these sexual ideas which were once considered to be dishonorable. The acceptance of this image, a direct cause of social construction and suppressed oppression, has given rise to a disturbed vision of black womanhood for years to come. Despite this,

For my research project, I would like to show the evolution of gender equality that has occurred in American society in the workplace. The disparity of status and privileges between men and women has existed since the end of the World War II. Although America has made progress concerning the acceptance of social issues such as same sex relationship and marriage, people are still unwilling to acknowledge that gender inequality is still rampant among our society. Gender equality hasn’t been achieved yet, particularly in corporate America that has an insignificant number of women in the upper ranks; fewer women occupy a post of chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or any other leading positions.