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My Topic: The Challenges Black Mothers Face In Society

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My Topic: The Challenges Black Mothers Face In Society

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I am interested in this topic because I work at an after school program for low-income parents, and mostly only black mothers pick their kids up, rarely do I see fathers. I want to get a glimpse of what those mothers have to go through being a Black man myself, I want to get a perspective of what the generations of mothers go through now and what previous generations of mothers also had to go through.

The 3 databases I got my sources from were:

1) JSTOR (3)

2) Project Muse (3)

3) ProQuest New York Times (1).

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"The Political Life of Black Motherhood"

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"The Political Life of Black Motherhood"

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Nash, Jennifer C. “The Political Life of Black Motherhood.” Feminist Studies, vol. 44, no. 3, 2018, pp. 699–712. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.15767/feministstudies.44.3.0699. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

I chose this article because it relates to my topic of black mothers struggles as it questions why black motherhood is viewed as as inherently revolutionary. For instance, in the article it says, "I remain both seduced by and skeptical of the representation of black motherhood as radical and revolutionary." The article shows the need for a higher understanding of what black mothers go through. This article also offered a perspective of a black mother who lost her son to police brutality and goes through what she had to deal with to get over her loss.

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"Negotiating Black Motherhood In Toni Morrison's Novels"

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"Negotiating Black Motherhood In Toni Morrison's Novels"

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Ghasemi, Parvin. “NEGOTIATING BLACK MOTHERHOOD IN TONI MORRISON’S NOVELS.” CLA Journal, vol. 53, no. 3, 2010, pp. 235–53. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44325640. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

To find this article I searched black motherhood in JSTOR,

I then entered "Toni Morrison motherhood" and "Toni Morrison novels" to narrow down the search results and focus on articles specifically discussing motherhood themes in Morrison's works. For example In "Sula," Eva's decision to prioritize her own well-being over sacrificing for her children illustrates Morrison's exploration of autonomy in motherhood. Ghasemi quotes from the text, "Her definition of the role begins with her depositing her three children with a neighbor and not returning for them for eighteen months. She chooses self over sacrifice, borders on immortality, and therefore becomes free" (Ghasemi, 73). This example demonstrates Morrison's portrayal of Eva's assertiveness and self-awareness in navigating the challenges of motherhood within the constraints of her social context. This relates to my topic because these are some issues that some black mothers are challenged with and have to face on a daily basis.

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"You have to put your children's needs first or you're really not a good mother": Black Motherhood and Self-Care Practices

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"You have to put your children's needs first or you're really not a good mother": Black Motherhood and Self-Care Practices

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Nichols, Tracy R., et al. “‘You Have to Put Your Children’s Needs First or You’re Really Not a Good Mother’: Black Motherhood and Self-Care Practices.” Women, Gender, and Families of Color, vol. 3, no. 2, 2015, pp. 165–89. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.5406/womgenfamcol.3.2.0165. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

I found this article by typing "Black Motherhood Struggles" in JSTOR, This article examines the daily struggles and coping mechanisms of low-income black mothers, revealing how societal expectations and cultural images intersect with economic and time pressures to impact their health behaviors. Through in-depth interviews, participants described the overwhelming responsibilities of motherhood, with one mother expressing, "You notice I haven’t sat down yet." The "strong black woman" image emerged as a coping strategy, as mothers felt compelled to sacrifice their own well-being for their families, as one participant lamented, "I’m just disgusted with myself!" The findings highlight the need for health interventions that acknowledge the social context of black mothers' lives and avoid reinforcing individual blame. For instance, the study suggests that "we need to be wary of messages that reinforce the morality of health, promote individual responsibility for health, and target mothers as family health managers." This article relates to my topic by showing how black mothers deal with their mental health and how hard their lives are.

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"Visible Black Motherhood is a Revolution"

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"Visible Black Motherhood is a Revolution"

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Morgan, Danielle Fuentes. "Visible Black Motherhood is a Revolution." Biography, vol. 41 no. 4, 2018, p. 856-875. Project MUSE, https://doi.org/10.1353/bio.2018.0082.

I found this article on Project Muse by typing in "Black Motherhood". This article emphasizes the challenges faced by Black mothers and their children due to systemic racism. Instances such as the murders of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Philando Castile underscore how Black mothers are subjected to scrutiny and blame, while their children are denied innocence and protection. Beyoncé's advocacy, like her Super Bowl performance and support for the Mothers of the Movement, highlights efforts to elevate the voices and experiences of Black mothers within the struggle against racial injustice. These examples illustrate the ongoing fight for visibility, recognition, and justice for Black motherhood within the broader movement for Black lives.

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Barclay, Jenifer L. "Mothering the “Useless”: Black Motherhood, Disability, and Slavery." Women, Gender, and Families of Color, vol. 2 no. 2, 2014, p. 115-140. Project MUSE muse.jhu.edu/article/557696.

I found this article by typing in "Black Motherhood Struggles in ProjectMuse. The narratives provided in this article show the relationship between disability and enslaved motherhood in America. Enslaved mothers faced additional obstacles in caring for children with disabilities within the confines of slavery's economic and social structures. Examples such as Monemia's dramatic search for her kidnapped daughters and Frank Fikes's role as a caregiver despite his own disability underscore the resilience and resourcefulness of enslaved women and children, highlighting the struggles they faced in preserving familial bonds amidst the dehumanizing forces of slavery. These stories illuminate the broader struggle of black motherhood within a system that systematically devalued their roles and sought to tear families apart. These stories also show how long black mothers have been facing these struggles since the days of slavery.

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"Mothering Alone: Rethinking Single Motherhood in America"

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"Mothering Alone: Rethinking Single Motherhood in America"

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Rothman, Barbara Katz. "Mothering Alone: Rethinking Single Motherhood in America." WSQ: Women's Studies Quarterly, vol. 37 no. 2, 2009, p. 323-328. Project MUSE, https://doi.org/10.1353/wsq.0.0199.

I found this article by typing African American Single Motherhood into ProjectMuse. This article discusses the author's reflections on second-wave feminism and the persistence of gender roles, particularly in the context of motherhood. Despite expectations of gender norms evolving, the reality remains largely unchanged, with women, especially single mothers, continuing to bear the primary responsibility for child-rearing. This struggle intersects with issues of race, as black single mothers, in particular, face challenges stemming from historical and systemic inequalities, perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage. The narrative underscores the enduring burden on women, especially those of marginalized communities, in navigating societal expectations and challenges associated with motherhood.

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"Women's perspectives on resilience and research on resilience in motherhood: A qualitative study"

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"Women's perspectives on resilience and research on resilience in motherhood: A qualitative study"

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Hannon, Susan, Agnes Higgins, and Dé Daly. "Women's Perspectives on Resilience and Research on Resilience in Motherhood: A Qualitative Study." Health Expectations, vol. 26, no. 4, 2023, pp. 1575-1583. ProQuest, http://proxygsu-ecor.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/womens-perspectives-on-resilience-research/docview/2837229812/se-2, doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13762.

I found this article by typing in "Black Motherhood Struggles" in ProQuestThe research delves into women's perceptions of resilience in motherhood, emphasizing its multifaceted nature influenced by individual, social, and cultural factors. Women challenge simplistic views of resilience, advocating for a comprehensive understanding that considers diverse influences. This resonates with the struggle of Black motherhood, where systemic inequalities compound challenges; for instance, limited access to supportive resources like mental health services disproportionately affects Black mothers, perpetuating disparities in maternal well-being. Additionally, the study's emphasis on the importance of inclusive research approaches aligns with efforts to amplify the voices and experiences of marginalized communities like Black mothers, ensuring their unique needs are addressed.