Rising Out of Oppression: The Identity and Self-Definition of African American Women

※Oppression

The pain that oppression brought African American women was extensive because they faced the double-edged sword of being black and women, receiving no respect or opportunities.

1. In the beginning: slavery

At that time, they have to try their best to adjust to the new environment, culture and language. Besides, most of them come from different tribes, so they must learn English to communicate with each other.

2. After Abolishment: non-citizens

“ Mules uh de world." Hill-Collins (2000)
→The gender roles for African American Woman
"physically demanding, economically exploitative," and "intellectually deadening" (p. 48).

3. The wrong images for African American Woman

EX : Film "It's A Wonderful Life" and "Cabin in the Sky."

※ The “Voice” of African American Woman

1. The first was with maintaining a connection to the culture through maintaining the Black English Vernacular that was adopted during slavery.

2. Blue Music:

EX: Bessie Smith, Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, and Billie Holliday

3. Scholarly Works : Black Feminism

4. They were the women in the neighborhoods getting together to discuss how to educate other women, teaching their children both solidarity and independence, refusing to be called "girl" by white women who were younger than them (Hill-Collins, 2000).

※The new images of African American Woman: Strong, Independent and determined
( source :
Rising Out of Oppression: The Identity and Self-Definition of African American Women
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/293514/rising_out_of_oppression_the_identity.html