Read the following excerpt from Anna Julia Cooper’s *A Voice from the South* (1892):
"Only the BLACK WOMAN can say 'when and where I enter, in the quiet, undisputed dignity of my womanhood, without violence and without suing or patronage, then and there the whole Negro race enters with me.'"
Based on this excerpt, which of the following statements best reflects Cooper's core argument regarding the role of Black women in racial advancement?
- The uplift and progress of Black women are inseparable from the advancement of the entire African American community.Answer
- BBlack women should prioritize gender equality over racial struggles, matching the focus of mainstream white feminist organizations.
- CThe advancement of Black women is secondary to securing the socio-political rights of Black men first.
- DBlack women should focus exclusively on economic class issues, ignoring the significance of race and gender.
Answer
The uplift and progress of Black women are inseparable from the advancement of the entire African American community.
The correct answer is correct because Cooper's statement 'then and there the whole Negro race enters with me' argues that the progress and elevation of Black women are central to, and inseparable from, the uplift and progress of the entire African American community. This embodies a foundational principle of Black feminist thought, which views racial and gender liberation as interconnected.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Foundational Black Feminist Thought and Intersectionality