Presenter Information

Rilley Kaye McKennaFollow

Content Category

Literary Criticism

Abstract/Description

Black mothers in America have historically been burdened with harmful stereotypes that attempt to cast them as illegitimate mothers and work to erase their unique identities, lumping them all together as “unfit” for motherhood. This has been the case since the days of slavery and continues through today, with the perpetuation of myths such as the “welfare queen.” Despite these negative stereotypes, both real black mothers and fictional representations of black mothers created by black women refuse to remain confined by this narrow conception of motherhood. Instead, in literature, art, media, and life, black mothers are depicted breaking free of the stereotypes, demonstrating power and strength, and succeeding and failing with incredible honesty. These depictions, which admit to both strength and weakness, fight against the idea that black mothers are inherently “bad mothers,” but also against the idea that they must be perfect to even approach being considered “good mothers.” In this paper, I illustrate the ways in which black mothers fight back against narrow conceptions of black motherhood, highlighting specifically Tracy K. Smith’s memoir, in which she reflects on her own mother’s life. I contend that by examining representations of black mothers by black women themselves, we complicate the rhetoric and ideas surrounding black motherhood, which enables us to recognize the power that black women have made for themselves, as mothers and as people, despite great obstacles. This power is present in depictions of black mothers in literature and life, and as we read and listen to these women, we can come to more fully understand and respect their contributions, sacrifices and daily lives as mothers today.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Origin of Submission

as part of a class

Faculty Involvement

Dr. Kristin L. Matthews

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Empowered Motherhood in Tracy K. Smith’s Ordinary Light

Black mothers in America have historically been burdened with harmful stereotypes that attempt to cast them as illegitimate mothers and work to erase their unique identities, lumping them all together as “unfit” for motherhood. This has been the case since the days of slavery and continues through today, with the perpetuation of myths such as the “welfare queen.” Despite these negative stereotypes, both real black mothers and fictional representations of black mothers created by black women refuse to remain confined by this narrow conception of motherhood. Instead, in literature, art, media, and life, black mothers are depicted breaking free of the stereotypes, demonstrating power and strength, and succeeding and failing with incredible honesty. These depictions, which admit to both strength and weakness, fight against the idea that black mothers are inherently “bad mothers,” but also against the idea that they must be perfect to even approach being considered “good mothers.” In this paper, I illustrate the ways in which black mothers fight back against narrow conceptions of black motherhood, highlighting specifically Tracy K. Smith’s memoir, in which she reflects on her own mother’s life. I contend that by examining representations of black mothers by black women themselves, we complicate the rhetoric and ideas surrounding black motherhood, which enables us to recognize the power that black women have made for themselves, as mothers and as people, despite great obstacles. This power is present in depictions of black mothers in literature and life, and as we read and listen to these women, we can come to more fully understand and respect their contributions, sacrifices and daily lives as mothers today.