Afram Post #1; Black Women Empowerment

Lexis Withers

Strong Black women have always been pillars in my own personal life but I found it rather refreshing when reading the articles about Willie Mae Thorton as well as Memphis Minnie; who were very strong and powerful Black women who were very revolutionary in the music world. When thinking about the struggle of Black people or women, both of those struggles are very deep rooted in our society. I think it is extremely important to then acknowledge the struggle (and involvement of intersectionality) of Black women. Both Willie Mae Thorton as well as Memphis Minnie had to fight for their right to simply be part of the music community in that age in time and all of the things that came with that. They were constantly limited to the ability or ‘right’ to perform and had to fight for their ability to do so, and left a unique mark on an industry that often tried to have them forgotten. I think one thing that was rather refreshing which isn’t always looked positively at especially within the Black community is the different forms of femininity. Mahon states that “These choices are evidence of an unconventional, transgressive, and liberated form of Black femininity that rejects prevailing expectations of how women should comport themselves to secure respectability” (Mahon). Memphis Minnie also had a similar viewing as she also displayed an unapologetic image of black femininity and reflected a rather “hard and strong” voice for someone of her stature and was a staple in having a guitar playing style which at that time was stated to be “harder than the coins that roll across the counter” (Hughes). I think it is extremely important to mention that simply because she was doing something that women were not seen as capable of doing let alone a Black woman; she was making a statement that many Black artists later followed. 

This can even be seen in a more modern context when relating it to the Women Who Rock Archive. Black women’s presence within Rock music has influence beyond the music community and industry. Sheila J. Hardy states “The energy of black women being bold enough to do rock, to be out there, to be unladylike, is all cloaked in all of the themes of the women’s movement. People still don’t know what to do with women in rock, and I want to show them.” It is extremely important to acknowledge that there is still a stigma on black women in the music they choose to listen to or perform. With Sheila J. Hardy mentioning this, it brings the reminder that Black women are a powerhouse for a lot of things and frankly it still makes people feel uncomfortable. Musicians that come to mind instantly to me who have also portrayed the image of being a strong Black woman are artists such as Aretha Franklin  as well as Queen Latifah who has put out music with very strong pro-black as well as pro-black femenist messages. Both of these women were strong activists in each of their respective genres as well as era’s and portrayed images of gaining respect and creating unity amongst all people while still portraying strength and dignity.