African American Women

Question 1

Historical Context

Answer 1

• The Legacy of slavery and reconstruction (oral, Jim Crow, basic rights)
• Harlem Renaissance
• Civil Right movement (inspired activism)
• Feminism + womanism
• Rise of Black Feminism

Question 2

The Harlem Renaissance

Answer 2

1920s-1930s
- cultural and intellectual rebirth
- artists gathered in Harlem to celebrate their heritage and challenge racial stereotypes

Question 3

Themes

Answer 3

• Racial identity and cultural heritage (reclaiming narratives)
• Gender and Feminism (intersectional)
• Social justice and activism (systemic racism, celebration of resistance)
• Family and community (intergenerational)
• Identity and self-discovery (belonging, self-acceptance)

Question 4

Major Figures

Answer 4

• Alice Walker
• Toni Morrison
• Maya Angelou

Question 5

Alice Walker

Answer 5

‘The color purple’ (1982)

Question 6

Toni Morrison

Answer 6

‘Beloved’ (1987)
=> intergenerational

Question 7

Maya Angelou

Answer 7

‘I Know why Caged Bird Sings’ (1969)
‘Phenomenal Woman’

Question 8

Legacy

Answer 8

• Representation and diversity in literature
• Cultural impact and global reach
• Contemporary voices and continuing legacy
• intersectionality
• Nina Simone

Question 9

Intersectionality

Answer 9

Kimberlé Crenshaw
=> recognizes that individuals can experience multiple forms of oppression or privilege simultaneously