Evolution of A Black Women: From Struggle to Strength


Ariel Taylor
November 30, 2025
Major Project
Dr. Harris
Evolution of A Black Women: From Struggle to Strength
During this semester, I have learned many things about the history of African Americans, specifi cally Black men, encountering struggles not only from non-colored people, but also within the Black community. In this class, I was awakened to the reality of the challenges, suff ering, and unfair treatment of African American culture and how the people in the past fought for the rights that many of us take for granted today. One thing that stood out to me this semester was Unit 3 when we had to read chapter 2 of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, and the character in the book, Nanny quoted, “De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see”(Hurston 47). This quote changed my perspective and focus to the vital position that a Black woman represents throughout history.
My project consists of gathering diff erent perspectives in my family throughout multiple generations of black women, seeking the challenges they experienced and how it created them into the black women they are today. Starting with my Great grandmother who was born in the late 40’s all the way through to my youngest cousin who was born in 1990. My project refl ects the diff erent time periods throughout history symbolizing the evolution of black women.



From the 1940s to 1960s, black women had to survive in a society that was shaped by segregation, discrimination, and not many opportunities. Black women had to clean houses, take care of children, and worked in low-paying jobs with little to no education. During the 1970s - 1990s Black women started to elevate, standing up for their rights and earning the jobs they deserved. However, they still experienced challenges such as being misrepresented in the media and being judged for embracing the natural beauty of a black woman. Overall, black women endured unimaginable hardships and trials which molded them into resilience, perseverance, and confidence.

Citations

 Honey, M., Berkin, C., Honey, M., Sammons, J., Jackson, M., John H. Morrow, Jr., Hervieux, L., Lanning, M. L., & Decaul, M. (n.d.). African American Women in World War II. African American Women in World War II | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/essays/african-american-women-world-war-ii

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