African American Women and the Vote, 1837–1965
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Author Description
Written by leading scholars of African American and women's history, the essays in this volume seek to reconceptualize the political history of black women in the United States by placing them "at the center of our thinking." The book explores how slavery, racial discrimination, and gender shaped the goals that African American women set for themselves, their families, and their race and looks at the political tools at their disposal. By identifying key turning points for black women, the essays create a new chronology and a new paradigm for historical analysis. The chronology begins in 1837 with the interracial meeting of antislavery women in New York City and concludes with the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The contributors focus on specific examples of women pursuing a dual ambition: to gain full civil and political rights and to improve the social conditions of African Americans. Together, the essays challenge us to rethink common generalizations that govern much of our historical thinking about the experience of African American women. Contributors include Bettina Aptheker, Elsa Barkley Brown, Willi Coleman, Gerald R. Gill, Ann D. Gordon, Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Cynthia Neverdon-Morton, Martha Prescod Norman, Janice Sumler-Edmond, Rosalyn Terborg-Penn, and Bettye Collier-Thomas.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This volume re-examines the political history of African American women by centering their experiences and agency. The essays explore how the intersecting forces of slavery, racial discrimination, and gender molded the aspirations of Black women for themselves, their families, and their race, while also detailing the political instruments available to them. By pinpointing crucial moments in the activism of African American women, the contributors establish a novel chronology and analytical framework for understanding their historical contributions. This framework commences in 1837 with an antislavery meeting and concludes with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, highlighting the dual pursuit of civil rights and improved social conditions.
THE SCOPE MAP
- Reconceptualization of African American women's political history by placing them at the center of analysis.
- Exploration of how slavery, racial discrimination, and gender shaped the goals and actions of Black women.
- Identification of key turning points and the creation of a new chronology for African American women's political engagement.
- Analysis of the political tools and strategies employed by Black women in their pursuit of rights and social improvement.
- Focus on the dual ambition of African American women to achieve full civil and political rights alongside better social conditions.
- Challenge to common generalizations about the historical experience of African American women.
- Chronology spanning from 1837 (antislavery meeting) to the 1960s (Civil Rights Movement).
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
This collection is regarded by scholars as a significant contribution to the fields of African American history and women's studies, offering a vital re-centering of Black women's political agency. The essays are praised for their rigorous scholarship and their success in establishing a new paradigm for historical analysis that challenges existing narratives. By meticulously detailing the struggles and triumphs of African American women from the antebellum period through the Civil Rights era, the volume provides essential insights into their multifaceted political engagement. The work is recognized for its ability to foster a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between race, gender, and political action in American history.
Page Count:
232
Publication Date:
1997-01-08
Publisher:
University of Massachusetts Press
ISBN-10:
1558490590
ISBN-13:
9781558490598
History
Non-Fiction
Political History
Social History
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