LeNie A. Adolphson lenieadolphson@hotmail.com
While watching the 74th Academy Awards this year and seeing Halle Berry win the Best Actress award, I was filled with pride and pleasure. It was an honor to see a woman of color finally win the Best Actress award that was so long overdue. In my heart, I saluted all African-American women who have struggled so hard to overcome racism , sexism, stereotypes and aggression. To my black sisters, I salute you. I salute you for rebelling against the standards of European beauty and decorum. When we were told our butts were too big and our lips too full, our hair too nappy, our voices too loud, our manners too aggressive, we never capitulated. We knew we had to be strong to survive.
I salute my black sisters for standing staunch against the stereotypes that we were all on welfare and had six children with six different men. I salute my black sisters for raising sons and daughters often alone while working one, sometimes two jobs. I salute all the older black women who were domestic workers for the long hours they put in nursing and caring for white children while their own children longed for them. Yet, despite obstacles, they persevered and shouted in church "Jesus is so good." I salute all the black women who fought for equality and educational opportunities, from Mary Macloud Bethune to Angela Davis. I salute Condeleeza Rice, who has shown the world there is no limit to our capacity to lead and command. I salute black women in politics such as Maxine Waters, who is unapologetically critical of all efforts to undermine or denigrate black people.
I salute Harriet Tubman for her courageous struggle to emancipate her brothers and sisters even while being hunted down by slave hunters. I salute Sojourner Truth, an early feminist who proudly stated "Ain't I a woman?" I salute Ida B. Wells for her fight to end lynching even in the face of sexism and humiliation from some men. I salute Aretha Franklin and Lauryn Hill for singing about love and not being loved back, but to love ourselves which is the greatest love of all - and demanding respect. I salute Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Terry McMillan and Zora Neale Hurston for writing magnificent stories on the experiences of being a black woman in America. I salute these and other marvelous writers who have told our stories.
On a personal note, I salute Eloise Hunter, my grandmother who moved from Alabama to Chicago to escape racism and mob violence in 1934 with less than a seventh grade education. She lost her husband to pneumonia after only nine years of marriage. She, like so many black women, was a domestic worker and worked in a factory to raise her children, who all graduated from college. I salute all the black women who worked, fought, prayed, achieved and ultimately conquered. To my young black sisters who may be struggling with issues of men, drugs, school and babies, I say to you: our great-grandmothers, grandmothers and mothers withstood unbelievable conditions. You have the power inside of you despite what you may have been told.
Don't ever quit or give up the fight to show your greatness, for we, as black women, are strong and brilliant. All we have to do is believe and achieve. So I say to all my ebony, chocolate, cinnamon, honey, pecan tan, golden, caramel, light skinned and red bone sisters - you go girls. I salute you every day. For all you do, this column is for you.
Raising Eyebrows appears on Monday. LeNie is a sophomore in social work. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Egyptian.
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
