The Cultural Identity Of The Strong Black Woman - 2874 Words

â€Å" I hang my head from sorrow/ State of humanity/ I wear it on my shoulders/ Gotta find the strength in me/’Cause I am a Superwoman/ Yes I am, yes she is/ Still when I m a mess, I still put on a vest/ With a S on my chest/ Oh yes, I m a Superwoman- Alicia Keys, Superwoman Alicia Keys is reiterating an identity that is universally accepted by most African-American women (Harris-Perry 184). This is the cultural identity of the Strong Black Woman (SBW): self-reliant, tough, and hardworking. Stuart Hall defines cultural identities as, â€Å"[A] sort of collective ‘one true self’, hiding inside the many other, more superficial or artificially imposed ‘selves’, which many people shared history and ancestry hold in common† (Hall 223). SBW is a self-construction manifested by black women in the Americas. It is used a coping mechanism in response to pervasive sexism and racism. The SBW construct dates back to slavery because the image projects traits of all three stereotypes established during the era of slavery: She looks like the Mammy but is loyal to the black community; She does not require physical and emotional security from men, thus, she resembles the Jezebel; She is angry, just like the Sapphire (Harris-Perry 187). Th is paper unveils the unfavorable impact of the Strong Black Woman (SBW) cultural identity in the Americas. The argument is centered on the effect of this cultural image on the private sphere, public sphere, and the health of black women. The paper also proposesShow MoreRelated With Reference To At Least Four Different Poems, Explore How Cultural1442 Words   |  6 PagesWith Reference To At Least Four Different Poems, Explore How Cultural Identity Is Represented By The Various Poets The four poems I have selected to focus on all portray a cultural identity in their own unique way. Wherever I hang and The Fat Black Woman Goes Shopping, are both written by Grace Nichols, a poet of Guinean background. I have also chosen to explore Dream Variation by Langston Hughes as well as Half-Caste by John Agard. I have chosen this selection of poetry becauseRead MoreToni Morrison s Beloved : Dehumanization Of Slavery And Its Effects On African Americans And Their Basic Forms Of1268 Words   |  6 Pagesexistence—specifically motherhood. Morrison depicts the strong maternal bond between Sethe and her children. Most importantly, her use of Sethe’s controversial act of infanticide shows the lengths that Sethe will take to protect her children from slavery. Morrison’s depiction of Sethe’s motherhood shows how slavery has deconstructed the Eurocentric expectations and traditions of motherhood and gender for black women. 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Read MoreIn The United States, Not Only Are Latin Women Being Misunderstood,1508 Words   |  7 Pageswhich affect them negatively on their identities and characteristics. However, the differentiation of their cultures makes them being stereotyped in distinct aspects. Some of African American women’s stereotypes are caused by their historical background. African American women are stereotyped as the â€Å"Jezebel† archetype. African American women’s historical background causes the emergence of the â€Å"Jezebel† stereotype. According to Woodard and Mastin’s research on black womanhood, â€Å"The Jezebel (or ‘‘sexualRead MoreIdentity Stereotypes in Audre Lordes Zami1060 Words   |  4 PagesIdentity Stereotypes in Zami by Audre Lorde In Zami by Audre Lorde, there are several issues that revolve around the stereotype of identity. The first of these deals with race and the second deals with gender, while the third is her sexuality. While many books touch on or even expound upon those topics, Zami focuses on them in a way that reaches out to the reader and provides a great deal of insight into whether race and gender matter and how they affect both a persons identity and his orRead MoreViewing Heritage And Identity Of An African American Family992 Words   |  4 Pagesways of viewing heritage and identity of an African American family. During the first read, the audience sides with the narrator and Maggie against Dee/Wangero. The reader can see Dee/Wangero antagonist of the story. However, this is not the only way to interpret â€Å"Everyday Use†. Walker has created a more complex story than just right and wrong. 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