The novel showcases how Black women navigate generational pain while reclaiming their sense of self:
“Freeing yourself was one thing,
claiming ownership of that freed self was another.”
Morrison speaks volumes about what it truly means to be free. For Black women, it’s not just about breaking out of physical chains — it’s about reclaiming your identity and self agency, especially after being told who you should be for so long. Morrison shows us that true freedom isn’t just about escaping the past, but about owning and loving the person you are. It’s this same concept that speaks to modern Black feminist movements, where the focus is empowering Black women to not only survive but to flourish and stand tall in their own power.
Contemporary Black feminists like Patricia Hill Collins, have drawn on Morrison’s work to dig deeper into how race, gender, and class intersect the lives of Black women. In Black Feminist Thought, Collins points out that Morrison’s exploration of trauma and empowerment gives us vital lessons in understanding how systematic struggles affect Black women today. These powerful ideas from Morrison remind us that the journey toward Black women’s freedom and self-determination isn’t over, but through resilience, self-love, and community, Black women continue to rise.
Black women writers and their legacies
What connects these four Black women writers is their ability to share and explain the various types of lived experiences of Black women. From Wheatley to Morrison, these writers understood how to challenge the status quo, and in doing so, became pioneers of Black feminism in the United States. Their contributions remind us that literature is not just about telling stories—it’s about shaping culture, challenging oppression, and giving voices to marginalized communities.
As we continue to reflect on their impact this Black History Month, let us also recognize that this work is far from finished. Today, Black feminist activists, scholars, and writers build upon these foundations, using their literature as a means of liberation. And as a result, Black women’s voices will never be silenced.
This article was produced with Made By Us, a coalition of more than 400 history museums working to connect with today’s youth.
