Image of Black Women

Dear Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham

When I think of this idea of femininity in Black Women I am reminded of Sojourner Truth and the distinct difference between the idea of black femininity and white femininity. When I read The Metalanguage of Race I thought of Truth’s famous speech “Ain’t I a Woman” and how she depicted herself as this strong, inspiring woman who could do anything a man could do; although in images of herself, she portrays someone more “ladylike” who knits and reads. It is almost as though she was forced to defy the stereotype of being masculine, like she had to prove that she was a woman. It’s like you said, this speech challenged a system that denied women their right to their own bodies and sexuality. Sojourner had to argue not only for her rights as a black woman, but also had to argue that even though she possessed this strength she was still a woman that deserved equal rights. I appreciate that this example highlights the long battle for black women’s control over their image and how they are seen compared to white women.

OF

RACE