Hard-Working Black Women: No New News Here
May 20, 2008 by Bridget Wright
Filed under Business
It’s true. Black women have for decades been the matriarchal backbone of the family, continually providing support. Through her tenacity and diligence, many famed Black leaders have excelled who have come from some single-parent, female-led, Black (or other ethnicity) homes. What the Black society is slowly starting to realize is just how important the Black woman’s role is, and has been, in the home.
[photo: redstone.army.mil]
According to the 2008 State of Black America report, published by the National Urban League, black women are now wearing many hats and are often carrying the weight of the entire African-American community on their shoulders.
Black women have also had to learn to be creative and resourceful when it has been expected of them to carry the family. Cleaning houses, caring for other people’s children and cooking for schools or nursing homes have long been hailed as jobs that were held by predominantly African-American women. That was the age of yesteryear, the 50s and 60s. Today, you are apt to find Black women still as resourcesful, but perhaps a little more creative than their foremothers.
Black women professional stylists and fashion designers are now teaming up with major brand distributors to develop hair care lines and major clothing lines.
You can find the presence of entrepreneurial Black women in food distributors like Aunt Kizzy’s back porch, which routinely get excellent reviews.
There’s no other harder-working woman in politics (excepting Hillary Clinton!) than Condoleezza Rice.
FORE! Move over. Elaine Joyce, professional golfer, is about to hit the ball.
When I was a young girl growing up, I saw my mom, grandmother and even great grandmother work tirelessly at odd jobs, making a living for their families. Now my dad was present in the home and even worked two jobs himself. My grandfather was disabled and my great grandfather was deceased. I saw these women work all day long just to provide the basics for their large families. That helped to instill in me a work ethic that I have even til today. When you see hard working people around you, you can’t help but work hard yourself, right?
When the news reports that a certain ethnic group works hard and is the foundation of the single-parent family, I’m not so surprised. When they report that economic conditions are favorable for a certain class of people, I don’t get alarmed. Hard work just pays off.
I’ve been knowing that for years.
Most of you should know this: The first black millionaire was a woman Madame C.J.Walker . Since her time until today Black women have played a vital role in the success & survival of Black Businesses. Black businesswomen have had to endure not only racism but also sexism . But through it all they have not only survived but thrived. Trailblazers like Patricia Bransford President Of the Urban Technology Center, Donna Walker-Kuhne CEO of Walker International Communications Group Inc., LindaMichelle Baron President Of Harlin Jacque Publishing Inc. These and countless other African American women have refused to accept mediocrity & excelled .
In order for our people to be successful & rise from poverty & despair the Black woman must take the lead. I know a lot of the men will be mad at me for saying that. However Black women are at the head of most of our households & are making the financial decisions in most families. So they are the ones in the best position now to help solve our problems. Listen Brothers we must step up and take our place as the head & sisters will be more than happy to support & be there for us until then let’s support & be there for them.