Roles Of African American Women During The 1800's
Elizabeth Grey
November 27, 2017
ENG 253
Donna Levy
Paper Two
The role of the African American woman during the 1800’s was one of oppression. They were generally stuck in positions that did not allow them to work outside the home. The primary responsibilities of the women were to work inside the home, bear children, and look after their husbands. Activist such as Anna Julia Cooper and W.E.B Du Bois believed Black women could contribute to the workforce and earn a living outside of the home just as well as a man could. Their philosophies were that Black women should be allowed to educate themselves and contribute to society. The education of colored women does not lessen their worthiness to become wives or mothers or void …show more content…
Black women could also be positioned to evaluate and suggest resolutions to inequalities in society because of their place in a prejudiced civilization. Women of color throughout this time period were born into slavery, could not hold jobs outside the home or become educated. “Education and elevation of Black women are crucial to racial uplift” (619). Anna Julia Cooper was the daughter of a slave and her white master. Although she was born in slavery she did not remain a slave. “She became one of the most, well-respected activist authors on the African American cultural scene” (618). Cooper presented one of her essays Womanhood a Vital Element in the Regeneration and Progress of a Race before a group of clergymen. The foundation of her article was that Black women could be more than nannies, or housekeepers. African American women could be productive outside of the home just as a man could. Although Cooper was born in slavery she did not remain a slave, she attended colleges such as Columbia University, Oberlin College, and earned her Ph.D. in French …show more content…
Du Bois, also an activist, was an associate of Cooper’s with whose informative viewpoints she was often recognized (619). Du Bois’ article The Damnation of Women spoke of the beauty of the Black woman and her ability to be heard as an educated individual. Du Bois stated, “when the messenger is male looks don’t matter, it is the message he delivers that is important” (769). Women should be afforded the same opportunity to convey their point no matter the outward appearance, everyone has a voice and deserves to be heard. Darker skinned Black women were not given the same chances as the lighter or fair skinned women. The lighter skinned or “mulatto” women were the first ones to be bought in the slave auctions. Masters or slave owners would pay higher for the light skinned women because of their looks. These women were allowed to work in the house and not in the fields and some of them were violated sexually because of their attractive
November 27, 2017
ENG 253
Donna Levy
Paper Two
The role of the African American woman during the 1800’s was one of oppression. They were generally stuck in positions that did not allow them to work outside the home. The primary responsibilities of the women were to work inside the home, bear children, and look after their husbands. Activist such as Anna Julia Cooper and W.E.B Du Bois believed Black women could contribute to the workforce and earn a living outside of the home just as well as a man could. Their philosophies were that Black women should be allowed to educate themselves and contribute to society. The education of colored women does not lessen their worthiness to become wives or mothers or void …show more content…
Black women could also be positioned to evaluate and suggest resolutions to inequalities in society because of their place in a prejudiced civilization. Women of color throughout this time period were born into slavery, could not hold jobs outside the home or become educated. “Education and elevation of Black women are crucial to racial uplift” (619). Anna Julia Cooper was the daughter of a slave and her white master. Although she was born in slavery she did not remain a slave. “She became one of the most, well-respected activist authors on the African American cultural scene” (618). Cooper presented one of her essays Womanhood a Vital Element in the Regeneration and Progress of a Race before a group of clergymen. The foundation of her article was that Black women could be more than nannies, or housekeepers. African American women could be productive outside of the home just as a man could. Although Cooper was born in slavery she did not remain a slave, she attended colleges such as Columbia University, Oberlin College, and earned her Ph.D. in French …show more content…
Du Bois, also an activist, was an associate of Cooper’s with whose informative viewpoints she was often recognized (619). Du Bois’ article The Damnation of Women spoke of the beauty of the Black woman and her ability to be heard as an educated individual. Du Bois stated, “when the messenger is male looks don’t matter, it is the message he delivers that is important” (769). Women should be afforded the same opportunity to convey their point no matter the outward appearance, everyone has a voice and deserves to be heard. Darker skinned Black women were not given the same chances as the lighter or fair skinned women. The lighter skinned or “mulatto” women were the first ones to be bought in the slave auctions. Masters or slave owners would pay higher for the light skinned women because of their looks. These women were allowed to work in the house and not in the fields and some of them were violated sexually because of their attractive