In an 1898 speech, activist Mary Church Terrell stated:
"With courage, born of success achieved in the past, with a keen perception of the opportunities of the present, and with a heart full of hope for the future, the colored women of the United States have banded themselves together into a National Association... for the uplift and betterment of their race."
Which of the following statements best explains why Black women formed separate organizations like the National Association of Colored Women (NACW)?
- They wanted to address both racial discrimination and gender inequality, which mainstream white women's organizations largely ignored.Answer
- BThey sought to focus strictly on gender equality and voter suffrage, aligning fully with the goals of mainstream white women's organizations.
- CThey believed Black women should limit their organizing efforts to purely spiritual and religious roles within local churches.
- DThey aimed to focus their organizing entirely on preparing Black women to emigrate to West Africa rather than seeking equality in the United States.
Answer
Black women formed separate organizations like the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) because they wanted to address both racial discrimination and gender inequality, which mainstream white women's organizations largely ignored.
The correct option is that Black women wanted to address both racial discrimination and gender inequality, which mainstream white women's organizations largely ignored. Black women activists faced unique challenges at the intersection of race and gender, which meant they could not separate the fight against racism from the fight against sexism. Because white-led suffrage and reform organizations regularly excluded Black women and ignored racial terror, Black women established independent organizations like the NACW to advocate for their communities.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Intersectionality in Black Women's Activism