Black matriarchy
Encyclopedia
Black matriarchy was a popular stereotype
in the 1950s and 1960s that exemplified black American family structure. This ideology depicted traditional black American households as being dominated and controlled by outspoken and emasculating women.
The role of motherhood that black women of this time period were expected to fulfill created a paradox
known as the superwoman
. This image of the superwoman depicted the black mother as someone who had to be a traditional good mother: nurturing and caring towards her children, but at the same time she was considered unfeminine, strong willed and too domineering.
During the time of the Civil Rights Movement
there was a situation of devastating poverty for many black families. Many black men could not support their families.
The inability of the men to provide on their own forced many black women to join the labor force in order to prevent their families from starving and many women become the head family provider. Some scholars argue that the myth of black matriarchy worked to generate a false sense of authority that was attributed to black women due to their participation in the labor force and their contributions in the household.
Some argue that the “authority” of the matriarchal figure as a family provider was an application of personal power instead of a means for survival.
has become a widely debated topic, while some authors believe that black women could effectively harness their matriarchal power and thus enable them to make Civil Rights claims, others believed that matriarchy only further contained black American women which lead to even worse economic conditions.
The myth of black matriarchy worked to contain and oppress women in several ways. It proved to be a damaging ideology for both black mothers and the black community as a whole. Contrary to the image that this stereotype portrayed, many women did not choose the role as sole family provider and matriarchal figure; rather they were forced into this position because of economic injustices that their families continually faced. This image also proved to be an effective tool for white supremacists to segregate the black community by gender, by enabling black men to blame the loss of their patriarchal power and disadvantages within the labor system on black women instead of white society.
, who publicizes the murder of her son, Emmett Till
. Mamie Till Bradley is credited to have sparked the “birth” of the Civil Rights movement yet only by depending on the “meanings of motherhood to formulate [society’s] views both on race relations and on American citizenship” which were defined by the expectations and “traditions” of white society. (Feldstein, 267.)
Feldstein argues how Bradley embraces her motherhood in order to attain authority in society, yet the public sphere limits her actions when people begin demonizing her. She defined her own subjectivity as a woman by putting herself in the public eye as a black, grieving mother and in doing so she “reformulated conceptions of both white and African American motherhood” (Feldstein, 266).
Yet, when Mamie Till Bradley “existed and acted as she did-as a mother, woman, and African American, in the public and private spheres- she became an object to be positioned, defined and contained…” (Feldstein, 267.) She is defined by the public eye because “motherhood [is] considered the ultimate form of womanhood” and this power is valorized in society. (Feldstein, 267.)
Mamie Till Bradley epitomized the domestic, contained and objectified woman of the 1950s by relying on idealized images of white woman and to represent herself as a respectable, grieving mother. She used her constant dependability on men, her emotionalism, and physical image of femininity to assuage any doubts regarding her respectability as a mother and her maternal role.
The challenge she poses to American power as a symbol and person in a racially biased society that valorizes Carolyn Bryant, the woman Emmett Till
allegedly “advanced” on, causes Mamie Till Bradley to ultimately be rejected as a motherly figure by the efforts of containment from white southerners and the NAACP.
She claims citizenship for herself by creating a position through her image as a “respectable” and “traditional” woman, which fails for Mamie Till Bradley who is ultimately constrained by the ambivalent nature of the stereotype of black matriarchy.
, Daniel Patrick Moynihan
used statistics from the United States Department of Labor
describe a "Black Matriarchy", Wallace writes: "Although no one would admit it, Moynihan had managed to provide authoritative support for something a lot of black men wanted to believe anyway: that the black woman had substantial advantages over the black man educationally, financially and in employment” .
He therefore generated a reaction that facilitated black men to blame matriarchy for the loss of male power within the family setting. Moynihan also theorized a relationship between “the professional and educational advancement of black women to the high juvenile delinquency levels, high crime levels, poor educational levels for black males” .
In her 1979 book Wallace claimed that in actuality black women had the lowest earning power, held the lowliest positions within organizations and corporations, and often required more education to obtain these positions than men.
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
in the 1950s and 1960s that exemplified black American family structure. This ideology depicted traditional black American households as being dominated and controlled by outspoken and emasculating women.
The role of motherhood that black women of this time period were expected to fulfill created a paradox
Paradox
Similar to Circular reasoning, A paradox is a seemingly true statement or group of statements that lead to a contradiction or a situation which seems to defy logic or intuition...
known as the superwoman
Superwoman (sociology)
In sociology the term superwoman has been used to describe a Western woman who works hard to manage multiple roles of a worker, a homemaker, a volunteer, a student etc...
. This image of the superwoman depicted the black mother as someone who had to be a traditional good mother: nurturing and caring towards her children, but at the same time she was considered unfeminine, strong willed and too domineering.
During the time of the Civil Rights Movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
there was a situation of devastating poverty for many black families. Many black men could not support their families.
The inability of the men to provide on their own forced many black women to join the labor force in order to prevent their families from starving and many women become the head family provider. Some scholars argue that the myth of black matriarchy worked to generate a false sense of authority that was attributed to black women due to their participation in the labor force and their contributions in the household.
Some argue that the “authority” of the matriarchal figure as a family provider was an application of personal power instead of a means for survival.
Debate over effects in postwar America
The power of black mothers at the time of the Civil Rights movementCivil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
has become a widely debated topic, while some authors believe that black women could effectively harness their matriarchal power and thus enable them to make Civil Rights claims, others believed that matriarchy only further contained black American women which lead to even worse economic conditions.
The myth of black matriarchy worked to contain and oppress women in several ways. It proved to be a damaging ideology for both black mothers and the black community as a whole. Contrary to the image that this stereotype portrayed, many women did not choose the role as sole family provider and matriarchal figure; rather they were forced into this position because of economic injustices that their families continually faced. This image also proved to be an effective tool for white supremacists to segregate the black community by gender, by enabling black men to blame the loss of their patriarchal power and disadvantages within the labor system on black women instead of white society.
Mamie Till Bradley
Ruth Feldstein manifests her argument in the domestic containment of black women that defines their traditional role in society though Mamie Till Bradley, an African American woman, worker, mother, and resident of ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, who publicizes the murder of her son, Emmett Till
Emmett Till
Emmett Louis "Bobo" Till was an African-American boy who was murdered in Mississippi at the age of 14 after reportedly flirting with a white woman. Till was from Chicago, Illinois visiting his relatives in the Mississippi Delta region when he spoke to 21-year-old Carolyn Bryant, the married...
. Mamie Till Bradley is credited to have sparked the “birth” of the Civil Rights movement yet only by depending on the “meanings of motherhood to formulate [society’s] views both on race relations and on American citizenship” which were defined by the expectations and “traditions” of white society. (Feldstein, 267.)
Feldstein argues how Bradley embraces her motherhood in order to attain authority in society, yet the public sphere limits her actions when people begin demonizing her. She defined her own subjectivity as a woman by putting herself in the public eye as a black, grieving mother and in doing so she “reformulated conceptions of both white and African American motherhood” (Feldstein, 266).
Yet, when Mamie Till Bradley “existed and acted as she did-as a mother, woman, and African American, in the public and private spheres- she became an object to be positioned, defined and contained…” (Feldstein, 267.) She is defined by the public eye because “motherhood [is] considered the ultimate form of womanhood” and this power is valorized in society. (Feldstein, 267.)
Mamie Till Bradley epitomized the domestic, contained and objectified woman of the 1950s by relying on idealized images of white woman and to represent herself as a respectable, grieving mother. She used her constant dependability on men, her emotionalism, and physical image of femininity to assuage any doubts regarding her respectability as a mother and her maternal role.
The challenge she poses to American power as a symbol and person in a racially biased society that valorizes Carolyn Bryant, the woman Emmett Till
Emmett Till
Emmett Louis "Bobo" Till was an African-American boy who was murdered in Mississippi at the age of 14 after reportedly flirting with a white woman. Till was from Chicago, Illinois visiting his relatives in the Mississippi Delta region when he spoke to 21-year-old Carolyn Bryant, the married...
allegedly “advanced” on, causes Mamie Till Bradley to ultimately be rejected as a motherly figure by the efforts of containment from white southerners and the NAACP.
She claims citizenship for herself by creating a position through her image as a “respectable” and “traditional” woman, which fails for Mamie Till Bradley who is ultimately constrained by the ambivalent nature of the stereotype of black matriarchy.
Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and "Black Matriarchy"
According to Michele WallaceMichele Wallace
Michele Faith Wallace is a feminist author and daughter of artist Faith Ringgold. She became famous in 1979 when, at age 27, she published Black Macho and The Myth of The Superwoman, a book in which she criticized black nationalism and sexism...
, Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick "Pat" Moynihan was an American politician and sociologist. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the United States Senate for New York in 1976, and was re-elected three times . He declined to run for re-election in 2000...
used statistics from the United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
describe a "Black Matriarchy", Wallace writes: "Although no one would admit it, Moynihan had managed to provide authoritative support for something a lot of black men wanted to believe anyway: that the black woman had substantial advantages over the black man educationally, financially and in employment” .
He therefore generated a reaction that facilitated black men to blame matriarchy for the loss of male power within the family setting. Moynihan also theorized a relationship between “the professional and educational advancement of black women to the high juvenile delinquency levels, high crime levels, poor educational levels for black males” .
In her 1979 book Wallace claimed that in actuality black women had the lowest earning power, held the lowliest positions within organizations and corporations, and often required more education to obtain these positions than men.
See also
- Mammy archetypeMammy archetypeThe mammy archetype is perhaps one of the best-known archetypes of African American women. She is often portrayed within a narrative framework or other imagery as a domestic servant of African descent, generally good-natured, often overweight, very dark skinned, middle aged, and loud...
- American family structureAmerican family structureThe American family structure is considered a traditional family support system involving two married individuals providing care and stability for their biological offspring. However, this two-parent, nuclear family has become less prevalent, and alternative family forms have become more common....
- Research on the African-American FamilyResearch on the African-American FamilyResearch on the African-American Family, by Robert Hill, published in 1968, is the counter-point to The Moynihan Report, or The Negro Family: The Case For National Action...
- The Negro Family: The Case For National ActionThe Negro Family: The Case For National ActionThe Negro Family: The Case For National Action, also known as the Moynihan Report was written by then-sociologist and later U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and released in 1965...