The History of Black Women in America has been a struggling story because of the oppression they faced by white supremacists. From the beginning of slavery in 1619, Black Women have constantly faced the struggle of finding their place in America. From being abused by white men, changing their appearances to feel accepted, and contributing to social movements, Black women have done it all. Yet still till today, people like Stereo Williams remind us why, “The most disrespected person in America is still the Black Woman” (Williams 2017). However, these women continued to present their work in order to claim a place in America. Even though it goes unnoticed that Black women have fought for issues of injustices and equal rights, there is constantly a blur of events, when discussing the ways that women impacted the world. Black women have made sacrifices to advocate for Black America through ways that they knew how. When America did not listen to their struggles, Black women wrote books, produced songs, created sculptures, and painted masterpieces in order to peacefully fight for the injustices of Black Americans.
Black Women’s Cultural and Artistic Critique on America is very important because in America there are many hierarchies. One hierarchy is for men and women; men are typically at the top of this hierarchy. In addition, there is a racial hierarchy and Black people are typically the lowest. With that being said, it is important to under how Black women became creators in order to contribute to the advocation of injustices of Black Americans. These women also wanted to address, “misconceptions about race and tracing their harmful consequences for black progress and racial relations” (Howard 1). Furthermore, the identity of Black Americans have prohibited them of gaining equal rights and respect within the American society. Therefore, over time, Black artists have been able to write their own history through creativity.
The theme of this online museum exhibition is Black Women’s Cultural and Artistic Critique on America. Art of Black women not only allowed them to critique America, but have, “…drawn attention to ways in which gender norms, exoticizing conditions of valor, and intra-racial conflict” (Fox 3). In the 1920s to 1990s, Black women grew in their artistic abilities because slavery, lynching, and police brutality against Black people gave rise to Black women forcing social, economic, and political change for their communities. Women like Maya Angelou, Zora Neal Hurston, and Nina Simone used their artwork to make political statements in response to questions like, “why must difference be theorized as a source of vision, not reducible to a tokenized otherness tethered to hegemonic whiteness?” (Fox 5). Addressing questions like this gave rise to social movements that wanted to educated Black people on their history. Therefore, Black women’s artwork symbolized a fight for Black America in bold and literary way. They were making political statements to enforce new leadership, gain respect, educate others, and to take a stand. The work of these Black women have paved the way for many social groups to speak up about injustices in Black communities. Their artwork brought to life, their experiences, as and real-life experiences are filled with emotions that pose opinions about whiteness as an ideology and Blackness as resilience. Art is important to understand because the art that these Black women produced, during difficult times, had allowed them to have a voice that they could not have for such a long period of time. Events like the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement are only a few times when these women exposed their art.
Black Women’s Cultural and Artistic Critique on America will argue that, “black women [artist] have shaped a literary history that reflect [spiritual principles] origins” (West 1). Most times, the art of these Black women gave them power to get in tuned with their spirituality just like their ancestors. Prayer, the discussion of God, and attending, “Black churches provide validation and resilience through ancestral connection, and cultivation of psychological belonging through acceptance from God and those with whom they worship” (Fisher 15). An important way for Black American to overcome hardship was through religion. Women used God as a form of prayer in order to navigate through hard times. These organizations implemented God as a way to gain strength and motivation through difficult times. God became an impactful connection between Black America and their ancestors as well. Lastly, God was a symbol of Black unity.
The theme of Black Women’s Cultural and Artistic Critique on America can tell us many things about the history of the United States since 1877. First, this theme can tell us that the U.S has failed to support people of color and minorities because white supremacy got to a point where it dehumanized and tried to eliminate an entire group of people. Secondly, this theme can tell us that the U.S has evolved in terms of technology, racial division, and social movements. Lastly, this theme can tell us that the U.S has instilled strong Black bodies that have learned to protect and fight for themselves and their people. This theme can also inform us of the start and continuation of Black women prospering and advocating for Black America through ways that they knew how. Their artistic abilities were an outlet to becoming strong women that motivated others to do so as well. This exhibition is also a way to highlight the work that Black women put in because often times it goes un noticed.