Arizona State University
HST 334 African American history since 1865
Unit II Lecture Notes
Spring 2022
African American Women's Struggles for Equality and Empowerment
Introduction
African American women have faced a unique set of challenges throughout American history,
including racism, sexism, economic inequality, and social injustice. In this lecture, we will define
African American women's struggles for equality and empowerment, provide a brief overview of
their history, and discuss the significance of their struggles in American history.
Definition of African American Women's Struggles for Equality and Empowerment
African American women's struggles refer to the collective efforts made by black women
to overcome the multiple forms of discrimination and oppression they have faced
throughout American history.
These struggles are aimed at achieving equal rights, social justice, and economic
opportunities for African American women.
They are often intertwined with those of other marginalized groups, such as African
American men, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other people of color.
Brief Overview of the History of African American Women's Struggles for Equality and
Empowerment
African American women's struggles date back to the early days of slavery in America,
where they were subjected to brutal exploitation, forced labor, and sexual violence.
Despite these challenges, black women were active in resisting slavery and advocating
for their rights. For example, Harriet Tubman became a leading abolitionist and
conductor on the Underground Railroad.
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In the post-slavery era, African American women continued to face numerous challenges,
including segregation, discrimination, and limited opportunities for education and
employment.
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s provided a platform for African
American women to advocate for their rights. Women such as Rosa Parks and Fannie
Lou Hamer played significant roles in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Mississippi
Freedom Democratic Party, respectively.
In the 1970s and 1980s, African American women were at the forefront of the feminist
movement, advocating for women's rights and gender equality. The intersectionality of
race and gender became a central theme in discussions about feminism, and African
American women played a crucial role in shaping these conversations.
Today, African American women continue to face numerous challenges, such as police
brutality, mass incarceration, and economic inequality. However, they are also leading
efforts to address these issues, such as the Black Lives Matter movement and initiatives
to increase the representation of women in politics.
Significance of African American Women's Struggles for Equality and Empowerment in
American History
African American women's struggles highlight the intersectionality of race, gender, and
class, and the unique challenges that result from these intersections.
These struggles challenge traditional narratives of American history that focus primarily
on the experiences of white men, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the
history of the United States.
African American women's struggles also inspire future generations to advocate for their
rights and work towards a more just and equitable society.
Slavery and Resistance
The enslavement of African Americans in the United States is a dark chapter in American
history. The experience of enslaved African American women was particularly brutal and
oppressive, as they faced both gender and racial discrimination.
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Despite these challenges, African American women actively resisted slavery through various
forms of resistance. Additionally, the abolitionist movement played a significant role in
advocating for the end of slavery and African American women played an important part in
this movement.
The experience of enslaved African American women:
African American women were often subjected to physical and sexual abuse by their
slave owners. This abuse was used as a means of control and domination, as well as a
way to maintain the slave system.
Enslaved African American women were also subjected to economic exploitation, as they
were forced to work long hours without pay. They often performed domestic work, such
as cooking, cleaning, and caring for children, which was essential for the functioning of
the slave system.
In addition to their work in the domestic sphere, many enslaved African American
women also performed agricultural labor in fields and on plantations. They were often
tasked with the most backbreaking and physically demanding work, despite the fact that
they were also responsible for caring for their families and households.
Resistance to slavery by African American women:
Despite the challenges they faced, African American women actively resisted slavery in a
variety of ways. Some of these forms of resistance included:
Refusing to comply with orders or work demands
Running away from their slave owners
Sabotaging the slave system by breaking tools or slowing down work
Engaging in acts of rebellion, such as uprisings or revolts
African American women also played a key role in maintaining their cultural traditions
and passing them down to future generations. This included preserving African
languages, music, and religious practices, which were often suppressed by their slave
owners.
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The abolitionist movement and African American women's participation:
The abolitionist movement was a social and political movement aimed at ending slavery
in the United States. African American women played an important role in this
movement, both as activists and as subjects of advocacy.
African American women such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick
Douglass were prominent abolitionists who spoke out against slavery and worked to
secure the freedom of enslaved people.
African American women also played a key role in organizing and participating in
abolitionist societies and conventions. For example, Maria Stewart was a notable African
American women's rights activist and abolitionist who spoke at the African American
Female Intelligence Society in Boston in 1832.
African American women also wrote and published anti-slavery literature, such as the
work of Harriet Jacobs, who wrote an autobiography titled "Incidents in the Life of a
Slave Girl" in 1861. This work was significant because it provided a first-hand account of
the experiences of enslaved African American women.
The experience of enslaved African American women was marked by oppression and
violence, but they actively resisted slavery through a variety of means. The abolitionist
movement played an important role in advocating for the end of slavery, and African
American women were essential in this movement.
The contributions of African American women in both resisting slavery and advocating for
its end have been largely overlooked, but they are a vital part of American history and should
be recognized and celebrated.
Post-Emancipation Struggles
A. Reconstruction Era and African American Women's Participation
Reconstruction era marked a significant time for African Americans, particularly women,
who took advantage of newly acquired rights to participate in civic and political affairs
(Roth 2017).
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African American women's activism during Reconstruction included organizing political
rallies, campaigning for civil rights, and working towards equal access to education and
employment (Terborg-Penn 2018).
The National Association of Colored Women (NACW) was founded in 1896 by African
American women activists to address social and political issues facing black women and
children, such as education and voting rights (Giddings 1984).
B. Early Women's Rights Movement and African American Women's Exclusion
The early women's rights movement, led by white women, did not always include
African American women, who faced exclusion and marginalization within the
movement (Cott 1987).
African American women were often relegated to secondary roles within the women's
rights movement and had to fight for their own rights as both women and members of the
African American community (Giddings 1984).
For example, in 1851, Sojourner Truth gave her famous "Ain't I a Woman" speech at a
women's rights convention in Ohio, highlighting the intersections of race and gender and
the need for African American women to be included in the movement (McBride 2018).
C. African American Women's Clubs and Organizations
In response to exclusion from the women's rights movement and other civic
organizations, African American women formed their own clubs and organizations to
address issues facing their communities (Giddings 1984).
These clubs and organizations provided opportunities for leadership development,
community service, and activism on issues such as education, healthcare, and civil rights
(Terborg-Penn 2018).
Notable African American women's clubs and organizations include the NACW, the
National Council of Negro Women, and the National Urban League (Giddings 1984).
Civil Rights and Beyond
A. African American Women's Participation in the Civil Rights Movement
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African American women played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement, despite
facing gendered discrimination within the movement (Collins 1991).
Women like Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Diane Nash were instrumental in
organizing grassroots campaigns and participating in direct action protests (Terborg-Penn
1998).
African American women's activism during the Civil Rights Movement paved the way
for future generations of women of color to become involved in social justice movements
(Crenshaw 1989).
B. Intersectionality of Race and Gender in African American Women's Struggles
African American women's struggles for civil rights and social justice have been shaped
by the intersectionality of race and gender (Crenshaw 1989).
African American women face unique challenges and forms of discrimination due to their
position at the intersection of multiple identities (Collins 1991).
For example, African American women are more likely to experience both racism and
sexism in the workplace, leading to decreased opportunities for advancement and
economic stability (Collins 1991).
C. Contemporary African American Women's Activism and Leadership
African American women continue to be at the forefront of social justice movements,
including Black Lives Matter and the fight for voting rights (Harris-Perry 2013).
Contemporary activism led by African American women often centers on issues of police
brutality, mass incarceration, and reproductive justice (Harris-Perry 2013).
African American women have also been breaking barriers in politics, with women like
Kamala Harris and Stacey Abrams making history as the first African American women
to hold positions of power at the national level (Cooper 2021).
Achievements and Challenges
A. African American Women's Achievements in Politics, Education, and Other Fields
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African American women have made significant achievements in politics, education, and
other fields (Collins 2009).
In politics, African American women like Shirley Chisholm, Carol Moseley Braun, and
Kamala Harris have broken barriers as the first African American women elected to
Congress and the first African American woman Vice President of the United States
(Collins 2009; Perry 2019).
In education, African American women like Mary McLeod Bethune and Maya Angelou
have made important contributions as educators and writers (Terborg-Penn 1998).
African American women have also made significant contributions to the arts, including
music, dance, and literature (Collins 2009).
B. Challenges Faced by African American Women in Achieving Equality and
Empowerment
Despite these achievements, African American women continue to face significant
challenges in achieving equality and empowerment (Collins 2009).
African American women are more likely to experience poverty, unemployment, and
housing instability than other groups (Collins 2009).
African American women also face high rates of maternal mortality and other health
disparities (Crenshaw et al. 2015).
Intersectionality plays a crucial role in these challenges, as African American women
experience discrimination based on both race and gender (Crenshaw 1989).
C. The Ongoing Struggle for African American Women's Rights and Representation
The ongoing struggle for African American women's rights and representation includes
efforts to address issues like pay equity, reproductive justice, and police brutality
(Crenshaw et al. 2015).
Organizations like Black Women's Blueprint and the National Black Women's Justice
Institute are working to promote the rights and well-being of African American women
and girls (Crenshaw et al. 2015).
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The ongoing struggle for representation also includes efforts to increase the number of
African American women in positions of power and leadership (Perry 2019).
However, progress has been slow, with African American women continuing to be
underrepresented in many areas of society (Collins 2009).
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References
Collins, P. H. (1990). Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of
empowerment. Routledge.
Collins, Patricia Hill. 1991. Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the
Politics of Empowerment. New York: Routledge.
Collins, Patricia Hill. 2009. "Black Feminism, Not Just the Women's Movement." Women's
Studies International Forum 32(5): 333-335.
Cooper, Brittany. 2021. "Kamala Harris and Stacey Abrams: Two Black Women Who Are
Making History." TIME. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://time.com/5931155/kamala-
harris-stacey-abrams-history/.
Cott, Nancy. 1987. The Grounding of Modern Feminism. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Crenshaw, Kimberlé, Andrea J. Ritchie, and Rachel Anspach. 2015. "Mapping the Margins:
Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color." In The
Oxford Handbook of Feminist Theory, edited by Lisa Disch and Mary Hawkesworth,
537-557. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Crenshaw, Kimberlé. 1989. "Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black
Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist
Politics." University of Chicago Legal Forum 1989(1): 139-167.
Crenshaw, Kimberlé. 1989. "Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black
Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist
Politics." University of Chicago Legal Forum 1989(1): 139-167.
Davis, A. Y. (1981). Women, race & class. Random House.
Giddings, P. (1984). When and where I enter: The impact of black women on race and sex in
America. William Morrow.
Giddings, Paula. 1984. When and Where I Enter: The Impact of Black Women on Race and Sex
in America. New York: Bantam Books.
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Harris-Perry, Melissa. 2013. Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America.
New Haven: Yale University Press.
Jones, M. (1985). Labor of love, labor of sorrow: Black women, work, and the family from
slavery to the present. Basic Books.
Jones, M. D. (1985). Liberating voices: African American women writers at the turn of the
century. Harvard University Press.
McBride, David. 2018. "Ain't I a Woman?" National Park Service. Accessed March 25, 2023.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/aint-i-a-woman.htm.
Nash, J. (2008). The women's liberation movement: Europe and North America. Routledge.
Perry, Keisha N. 2019. "Black Women in Politics: What's Changed, What Hasn't, and What's
Next." Brookings. Accessed March 25, 2023.
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2019/11/19/black-women- -politics-whats-in
changed-what-hasnt-and-whats-next/.
Roth, Sarah. 2017. "The Politics of Race and Gender During Reconstruction." Journal of the
Civil War Era 7(3): 372-395.
Terborg-Penn, R. (1998). African American women in the struggle for the vote, 1850-1920.
Indiana
Terborg-Penn, Rosalyn. 1998. African American Women in the Struggle for the Vote, 1850-
1920. Bloomington:
Terborg-Penn, Rosalyn. 1998. African American Women in the Struggle for the Vote, 1850-
1920. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Terborg-Penn, Rosalyn. 2018. African American Women in the Struggle for the Vote, 1850-
1920. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
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