The contribution of black women to the African American freedom struggle between 1865 and 1940 - Essay Example

? Evaluate the contribution of black women to the African American freedom struggle between 1865 and 1940 The history of African American involvement, participation and contribution in politics is rich and its foundations highly extensive, an examination of African American citizenship since 1865 is representative of these observations and highlights the depth of this notion. Gates et al. (2012; p.492) state that “political participation has been a fundamental constant in the lives of African American people” and this statement is verifiable by the great testaments of the struggle for freedom and justice that black men and women have portrayed and displayed with relentless and enduring determination in the past. Sheriff et al. (2011; p.432) observe that the beginnings of the African American struggle are outlined in the people’s quest for independence from dominance, supremacy of the other and slavery. Certainly, the role of black women in carrying this vision, guiding it towards its realization and ensuring that the struggle for independence evolves into the achievement of equality has been critical and of immense importance. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the contributions of black women to the African American freedom struggle by directing specific focus towards the analysis of the period lasting between 1865 and 1940. The discussion in the succeeding sections of the paper aims to establish a critical view of the role that black women played in achieving the aims that were advanced by early writers, journalists, historians, leaders and freedom fighters between 1865 and 1940. In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives the analysis that has been conducted in the paper progresses in a chronological and systematic sequence to identify the beginnings of political activism and the quest for freedom amongst black women to ultimately present conclusions regarding the topic under consideration by appraising the views of modern historians, writers and researchers with respect to the notion. In their assessment of the black women’s experience of political activism, participation and freedom struggle, Gates et al. (2012) employ an intersectional approach that has been much appreciated by black feminist writers. The adoption of this framework throughout the progress of the analysis essentially enhances the comprehensiveness and depth of the research by suggesting that the actions of a human being cannot be understood in their entirety unless the fundamental role that various systems, entities and organizations play in dictating those behaviors and decisions is fully acknowledged and realized (Gates 2012; p.493). Therefore, in comprehending the actions of black women that were fundamentally motivated by their desire for freedom, equality and independence their intersectional positioning within the wider context of society is of the utmost importance. Consequently, by implementing the foundations of this approach the one-dimensionality and generality of exclusively assessing a single individual is removed such that the individual does not essentially depict the true story of the black women’s role in the African American struggle for freedom and the hardships they had to suffer during the course of their journey. In accordance with the observations of this framework of analysis the foundations of black women’s historical role in the political advancement of African American agenda is said to be an amalgamation of racism and sexism (Gates 2012; p.494). Collier-Thomas and Franklin (2001; p.2) suggest that even though, stories which reflect the selfless participation of African American women in the civil rights movement have only come to light by writers and researchers in recent decades these assessments have provided a comprehensive view of the state of black women in various epochs which is indicative of their tremendous progress to the present day. The foremost aspect in the critical evaluation of the contributions of black women in the African American freedom struggle is that of leadership and how the dream, inspiration and vision of these women guided their contributions in the achievement of freedom and independence. Kleinberg et al. (2007; p.309) state that the foundations of leadership that was advanced by black women were laid as the nineteenth century approached its departure, this historic and pivotal action was a consequence of an awakening and awareness that became increasingly observable amongst educated black women belonging to the middle class. These courageous women belonged to diverse walks of life and a range of professions however; they were unified on the advancement of a common vision that was established at the same time as emancipation and Reconstruction (Kleinberg 2007; p.309). Gates et al. (2012; p.495) add an interesting aspect to the discussion regarding the beginnings of black women’s political participation in the late nineteenth century. The scholars suggest that even though, African American women were not granted the right to vote during the time they still recognized the men’s right to vote as “a collective instrument for change” (Gates et al. 2012; p.495). This notion postulates that despite of the fact that African American women were not yet allowed to vote or take part in the political process, political affiliation in African American households was shaped by a sense of community and within the household which meant that black women would often employ any possible tactic to potentially influence the votes of the men of the household to ultimately receive recognition in the political process through the male vote (Gates et al. 2012; p.495). Assessing this understanding from an intersectional approach, it is possible to attribute the role of the political system at the time to comprehend the behavior, actions and decisions of black women and how they managed to sway political opinion within the household. Certainly, the constitution’s failure to grant African American women with a recognized voice through the power of the vote meant that there were no other choices available at their disposal but to utilize the limited freedom of their male counterparts. Further describing the lives of the politically conscious and active black women in the late nineteenth century, Kleinberg et al. (2007; p.309) highlight the practical initiatives of the newly organized leadership whose members displayed enthusiastic involvement in Republic politics and the temperance movement. Perhaps, the most significant contribution of black women to the African American freedom struggle was their sincere, determined and relentless effort to improve their socioeconomic condition as a means of rising above their present situation. As stated previously, the intersectional approach to the assessment of African American women takes into account the presence of racism and sexism that the group was subjected to from the beginning (Gates 2012; p.494). The women leaders at the forefront of this revival encouraged female participation in a predominantly male society; the success of these initiatives is reflected in the inclusion of females as founding members of charitable, religious and educational organizations, an example of which is the National Council for Negro Women (NCNW) that was founded by Mary McLeod Bethune (Kleinberg et al. 2007; 309). The vision of rising above adversity can be said to be the guiding principle of black women in their contributions to the African American freedom struggle, Kleinberg et al. (2007; p.409) observe that the formation of the National Association of Colored Women’s Club which was initiated in 1892 acted as a major institution in advancing the stance of political activists who belonged to the middleclass. The primary objective of the organization aimed to protect and advance the wellbeing of the African American population without a consideration of social, economic, educational or geographic barriers (Taylor and Moore 2003; p.127). Collier-Thomas and Franklin (2001; p.2) acknowledge the significant role of black women’s club participation and movements in promoting the progress of the group and advancing the stance of freedom for all that eventually became prominent by the mid-twentieth century. A prominent feature of the black women’s contribution in the African American struggle between 1865 and 1940 is reflected in the numerous works of black women activists, writers and authors who forwarded their opinions, advanced their ideas and communicated their thoughts through the medium of writing. Dandridge (2004; p.13) comments on a certain piece of literature that was released in the early twentieth century which centers around a black female protagonist who fights for the sake of securing the African American population’s right to the ownership of land as a significant part of her struggle to protect her land. Dandridge (2004; p.13) establishes the association between the depiction of such heroines in abundant pieces of fictional literature that were penned down by black women authors in the period lasting between the late nineteenth century and the arrival of the twentieth century. The progression of fictional narratives which call for freedom is representative of a systematic evolution that is pertinent to the issues that were faced by black women and the entire African American population in the particular epoch. Dandridge (2004) outlines the beginnings of Antebellum Activism which essentially describes the African American awakening regarding the significance of freedom and demand for equality, consequently, the evolution of this realization transitions to the early years of the twentieth century which were marked by a demand for the African American’s right to landownership. This observation defines the efforts of black women belonging to each and every walk of life in contributing towards the African American freedom struggle, by fighting for independence during the spread of colonization and abolitionist movements through the power of the pen. Similarly, Conyers (2011; p.112) highlights the instrumental role of black writers and journalists in the struggle for freedom, praising the efforts of journalist and freedom fighter Ida B. Wells-Barnett, the writer applauds her role in American history as one of the leading black women leaders whose dedication was critical to the progress of black women in the country. The developments in the era that preceded the civil rights movement were the cornerstone which steered the progress of events that reached their culmination in the 1960s. As noted by Collier-Thomas and Franklin (2001; p.9) the establishment of black women’s organization was not solely motivated by an underlying feminist stance but aimed to serve a wider purpose of providing freedom, independence, liberty and justice to the entire population of African American citizens. Leading the core activities of the African American freedom struggle, founder of National Council for Negro Women, Mary McLeod Bethune worked towards the abolition of judicial isolation, racial prejudice and discrimination that African Americans faced in the United States (Collier-Thomas and Franklin 2001; p.9). Collier-Thomas and Franklin (2001; p21) understand that the civil rights activities of black women’s organizations from 1915 onwards were instrumental in promoting the rights of the African American population as a whole, in the biennial meeting of National Association of Colored Women (NACW) which was established in 1896, the members conducted a comprehensive discussion on the topic of “How the Negro May Obtain His Rights by Legislation” while also conducting a healthy debate on familial issues. The most significant feature of the agendas advanced by NACW and other similar organizations which performed their activities in the period between 1865 and 1940 is identified by Collier-Thomas and Franklin (2001; p.21) who observe that the vision of black women’s movements and organizations at the time was so forward, that despite of fact that the principle of civil rights and the struggle for its achievement only became a popular stance in the period from 1940s onwards, African American women’s organization were already actively participating in the promotion of education, housing facilities and political participation while, strongly raising objections regarding discriminatory and prejudiced practices. The strength of the motivation with which the organizations were governed and led was immense, and this notion is observable by the statement of Collier-Thomas and Franklin (2001; p.21) who note that “…some black women’s groups took the lead in developing strategies at the national level to advance the civil rights of the African American population”. While, black women’s organization such as the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) and National Council for Negro Women (NCNW) executed their activities on a national scale and aimed to expand their extensive reach within various locations in America to target greater numbers of black women, McKinney (2010; p.21) relates the events in Wilson, North Carolina which capture the essence of the African American freedom struggle. Expounding upon the participation of residents in combating oppressive forces, McKinney (2010; p.21) understands that while general observations which focus on the struggle for freedom view men as the primary participants against oppressive forces, the situation at Wilson, North Carolina represented the exact opposite of this perception. In fact, black women belonging to the city of Wilson undertook the commencement of key activities for directing the course of the freedom struggle in the location; this involved the creation of theoretical foundations of the concept of freedom and the establishment of procedures to combat the situation (McKinney 2010; p.21). As stated previously, the most fundamental contribution of black women in the African American freedom struggle was the acknowledgement and realization of the fact that an overall improvement in the condition of the African American race can only occur once; black women themselves take the initiative to enhance their social, economic and political state. In order to achieve this aim, African American women actively participated in the political process by participating in extensive discussions and debates on the present situation of the race to encourage the development of ideas that were fundamental to their welfare and wellbeing (McKinney 2010; p.21). Even though, the intellectual campaign of the black women’s struggle for the freedom of African Americans was primarily led by educated middle class members of the group who served in various capacities as teachers, writers and journalists, McKinney (2010; p.21) observes that black women belonging to the working class also worked relentlessly to secure the advancement of their interests rather than selecting silence and tolerance as the answer. In Wilson, North Carolina African American women served in the houses of white residents or expended their efforts in warehouses that stored tobacco. The advancement of civil rights that was headed by working class black women primarily consisted of the establishment of movements that sought to improve the conditions in which women worked across the city, moreover, the objectives of such movements also consisted of a demand for higher wages (McKinney 2010; p.21). Moreover, Kleinberg et al. (2007; p.309) add that working class black women also participated in strikes and industrial action to demand labor rights while, earning their livelihood after emancipation. A distinct facet which addresses the contributions of black women in the African American freedom for struggle relates to role of female youth leaders such as Juanita Jackson, who served the National Council of Methodist Youth as a vice president after her election in 1934 and later dedicated her efforts to the running of the National Council for Negro Women (NCNW) as the highest office holder (Gore et al. 2009; p.59). The participation of black women belonging to the middle class and working class in the freedom for struggle and the critical role of youth leaders in engaging new members and volunteers in various organizations is indicative of the extensive nature of the black women’s contribution in the struggle for independence and in creating a groundwork for the civil rights movement which would reach its pinnacle in the 1960s. The force of black women between 1865 and 1940 was largely underrepresented in mainstream media of the time when it in fact was the backbone of the events which were to evolve in the coming decades to finally guarantee the African American population the opportunity to live in their country with freedom, liberty and independence. As suggested by McKinney (2010; p.21) an analysis of the occurrences which took place at Wilson, North Carolina that relate to the experiences of the African American population in the time before the civil rights movement reached its culmination postulate that black women played the role of conceptualists and strategists in the struggle for freedom. This notion implies that members of the group presented a theoretical view of independence while recommending tools that could be utilized for the achievement of this core aim. Tuck (2010; p.156) understands that the period following June 1919 which saw the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment till its endorsement in 1920, black women activists realized that the execution of their strategies would yield the best possible results. Realizing this fact, black women worked on the development of associations with their white counterparts. Swift (1991; p.20) terms the progress of such relationships as an integrationist phase in the movement, which saw the advancement of an association between white and black reformers. Gates et al. (2012; p.85) outline the development of the Progressive era which was marked by an increased participation by reformers and leaders who established organizations to address the inequalities facing the African American population and to remedy the situation that had emerged after years of discrepancies in the treatment of blacks. Gates et al. (2012; p.86) remark that the key purpose of women’s movements did not aim to focus on addressing issues that were of specific concern to black females, on the contrary, the agenda of black women’s organizations extended to a vast scale. Henceforth, the progress that was achieved during the period between early twentieth century and 1940 was significant, as indicated by the participation of African American women in the suffrage movement and the promotion of an understanding and dialogue between white and black reformers (Gates 2012; p.85). According to Tuck (2010; p.156) African American women worked relentlessly towards the mobilization of resources that were gathered as consequence of the relationship between black and white women during the Progressive era thereby, allowing black women to establish and develop reform missions. The wider vision of such reform missions that were initiated by black women during the Progressive era was aimed towards promoting the betterment, welfare and overall progress of the African American race. Kleinberg et al. (2007; p.309) note that black women advanced African American freedom by initiating dialogue, interracial debates and collaborations and by advocating the enhancement of the education system. The Progressive era was characterized by such developments that are believed to be critical in the culmination of the civil rights movements as influential personalities of the time such as Ida B. Wells played their part in bringing accounts of lynching to light and creating an awareness of such incidents amongst the masses. The contribution of black women in the African American freedom struggle between 1865 and 1940 is extensive and is characterized by an active involvement of all members of the female African American population regardless of their location, class, social background and upbringing. An analysis of literature and scholarly works that have been written on the topic suggests that writers and scholars have only recently recognized the extent of the efforts that were expended by black women to lay the groundwork and the foundations for the civil rights movement. The assessment of the vast topic is primarily based on the adoption of an intersectional approach which encompasses the role of organizations and institutions in defining the behavior and decisions that were taken by black women in their fight for freedom from 1865 to 1940. The key aspects of the preceding discussion are associated with an evaluation of the role that black women’s organizations such as the National Council for Negro Women (NCNW) and the National Association of Colored Women’s Club played in advancing the interests of the country’s African American population. Furthermore, the discussion also addresses the individual roles of middle class black women and working class black women in the struggle for freedom and during the Progressive era which marked the establishment of various social reforms and initiatives for the betterment of the African American population. In conclusion, the key discussion of the paper highlights the development of the period between 1865 and 1940 by assessing the contributions of black women in the struggle for independence. The findings of the examination suggest that despite of the several hardships that black women faced in America, the group’s approach in tackling the situation displayed tremendous organization, extraordinary leadership and persistent effort in attaining the desired objectives. The black women’s role in the journey towards freedom and independence shows the implementation of a systematic approach in the management of organizations, movements and demonstrations that eventually laid the foundations of one of the most influential struggles in history. Commencing from the late nineteenth century, black women projected a sense of understanding which led to profound reflections on their current state. The most inspiring aspect of the contributions of black women in the attainment of freedom is their realization that an enhancement of one’s present state lies in the achievement of education and the betterment of economic opportunities. Indeed, the advancement of black women in a wide array of fields in a society that was dominated by males, racial discrimination and sexism is their most significant contribution to the African American struggle for freedom. References COLLIER-THOMAS, B., & FRANKLIN, V. P. (2001). Sisters in the struggle: African American women in the civil rights-black power movement. New York, New York University Press. CONYERS JR, J. L. (Ed.). (2011). Afrocentric traditions (Vol. 1). Transaction Books. DANDRIDGE, R. B. (2004). Black women's activism: reading African American women's historical romances. New York, P. Lang. GATES JR, H. L., STEELE, C., BOBO, L. D., JAYNES, G., CROOMS-ROBINSON, L., & DARLING-HAMMOND, L. (Eds.). (2012). The Oxford Handbook of African American Citizenship, 1865-present. Oxford University Press, USA. GORE, D. F., THEOHARIS, J., & WOODARD, K. (2009). Want to start a revolution?: radical women in the Black freedom struggle. New York, New York University Press. KLEINBERG, S. J., BORIS, E., & RUI?Z, V. (2007). The practice of U.S. women's history narratives, intersections, and dialogues. New Brunswick, N.J., Rutgers University Press. MCKINNEY, C. W. (2010). Greater Freedom: The Evolution of the Civil Rights Struggle in Wilson, North Carolina. 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