Zandrill Ellis Case Study

Barbara Jordan was an African American woman who studied law at Boston University in 1959. In a time were the movements changed the world dramatically, and then the mobs. Jordan was in the middle of an environment that was unfriendly because she had a difficult time understanding the concept of the school work. She would pile herself in textbooks night after night. Since it was 1959, Jordan was the oddball in Boston University. Her professors would occasionally have a “Ladies Day” to some extent. (223) The males were the one who got called on the most. To prepare for the classes, she would study with a group instead of being by herself. With a small group, six to seven people began to discuss law with facts, cases and findings. Barbara Jordan noticed that the study group, she felt that the group work was more education then anything else. The new finding of “ Becoming Educated”, she could comprehend materials

African American women have long been stereotyped, discriminated against and generalized in this country. They have had to face both being black in America while also being a woman in America. African American women encountered and still do encounter double discrimination of both sex and race (Cuthbert, 117). Women like Elise Johnson McDougald, Marion Vera Cuthbert and Alice Dunbar-Nelson all tried to shed light on what it was like to be an African American woman living in the 20th century yet literature often portrayed them as emotional, hypersexual, unintelligent and of lesser worth. The literature highlighted that African American women have to serve both their employer and their husbands and families. They are not supposed to have an opinion or stand up for themselves, especially to a white man. ***Concluding sentence?

Throughout a life that stretched from slavery into her civil rights movement, Anna Julia Cooper defended the rights of all people to dignity, education, and respect. As an educated, competent, independent woman, she faced the double challenge of being African American and female in a society that was deeply racist and sexist, but with confidence and elegance, she challenged society’s assumptions about her. Her life was dedicated to the education of all people, but especially to taking care of the minds of black girls. “Throughout her activist adherence to her ideals, she provided an example of individual excellence rendered incandescent by service to the human community” (Berson, 1994).

Angela Davis was a prominent political activist in the United States. She was a member of the Communist Party of the USA where she ran for vice president in 1980 and 1984. She was also involved with the Black Panthers and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. Davis spent sixteen months in prison due to charges of murder and conspiracy but was acquitted of all charges and released. She has authored many books that delve into the social position of black women in America and the prison system. In Women, Race, & Class Davis discusses the diverse ways the women’s rights movements have mistreated and ignored black women’s struggle for freedom.

A number of black women writers forged their way into classrooms to teach us. “Historian Gerda Lerner edited Black Women in White America in 1973 which further revised the understanding of African American roles in U.S. history as both the victims

Hull and Barbra Smith provided four issues that seem important for a consideration of the politics of Black women’s studies: “(1) the general political situation of Afro-American women and the bearing this has had upon the implementation of Black women’s studies; (2) the relationship of Black women’s studies to Black feminist politics and the Black feminist movement; (3) the necessity for Black women’s studies to be feminist, radical and analytical; and (4) the need for teachers of Black women’s studies to be aware or our problematic political positions in the academy and of the potentially conditions under which we must work” (Hull, Smith 187). These concepts are stepping stones to developing a better image for African American females. If society applied these, women would have a more even-chance to pursue what they believe in.

She has always been a strong believer in equal rights. Lena has actively participated in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Council of Negro women, the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and the Urban League. Lena often offered her

In a publication titled ‘Black Women in Academe’, author Yolanda Moses describes how “isolation, invisibility, hostility, indifference, and a lack of understanding of the Black women’s experiences are all too often part of the climate Black women may face on campuses” (Moses, 1989). The detrimental environment surrounding these women frequently results in sullenness, lack of social assertiveness, and belief that they are less competent than male students. Even if time spent at an academic institution is minimal, with this kind of prejudice faced at an early age, any woman- black or otherwise, would suffer the rest of their life. In response to the discrimination faced at universities, some have created programs to aid black students and other minorities; these programs tend to generalize the needs of all its black students and do not fully support black women specifically.

Alexis Ojeda-Brown is a senior English and American History double major at the University of Maryland College Park while also pursuing a certificate in African American Studies. She is the Executive Chairwoman of the Activism committee for the College Park chapter of the NAACP as well as holding the position of Vice President of External Affairs for PLUMAS (Political Latinx United for Movement and Action in Society) and is active in various other Multi-cultural organizations on campus. She has a passion for writing and literature and wants to pursue a career in Publishing and has an interest in IP law. Alexis enjoys reading and writing Historical and Period fiction.

Lugenia Burns Hope was a very successful women of her time. Even though she is only remembered for one of her many great actions she still had a huge impact on women’s and African Americans rights before the civil rights movement. She helped out many African American children and to this day still has papers at Robert W. Woodruff library. Main Cited

Inspired by the Black theology of James Cone, Delores Williams attended Union Theological Seminary to study under Dr. James Cone. While she was appreciative of Cone’s diligence in making space for Black women to participate in furthering Black theology, Williams and others faced great opposition from their Black male counterparts. Kelly Brown Douglas, a Womanist theologian and student of Cone, reflects on while she did know about racism first hand, she had no idea about sexism until she went to Union and her Black male classmates told her she could not preach and could only do certain things within the church. This opposition signaled to Williams and Douglas that their work was essential in liberating all black people and not just Black

Temple University student, Bianca Carey launches public relations firm dedicated to enhancing and helping black women gain exposure in their perspective careers or industry of choice. Bianca Carey majoring in Strategic Communications with a concentration Public Relations created Yell, Black Girl Public Relations this summer. “Yell, Black Girl was created to recognize the voices and talents of the underrepresented also known as black women.” She explains. The firm supports young black women entrepreneurs in and around Temple University’s campus. While encouraging higher learning for young girl currently in high school or recent graduates.

Jacquelyn Dowd Hall's work is influential because she recaptures a white woman's story from a forgotten past; but at the same time Hall contributes to the myth of the white woman who saved black America from the practice of lynching, when in fact, the story is much more difficult than that. “Poor white woman, like slaves and free black woman, were fair game for upper-class white men.”(xxiii). It restates, in its silences, more than Hall may ever know.

Angela Davis is one of the most influential women when it comes to feminism, race, and politics, just to name a few. She has paved the way for many generations of women to have a voice when they once wouldn’t. It is essential to realize that one can’t discuss feminism and black power without discussing Angela Davis. The reason I chose Angela Davis is because she is a household name that I have always heard, but had never known much of. I think it’s deeply important to understand the impact she’s had on the feminist movement, specifically for women of color.