So often, when the progression of black people as a whole is discussed it’s done in a way that is familiar, stale and very reminiscent of the cursory Black History Month lessons we are given in elementary and middle school. We’re given a glimpse into the atrocity that was American slavery, we get a 20 minute lecture before recess or lunch about the importance of the civil rights movement, we hear about George Washington Carver and his peanut butter for the umpteenth time, but we never really get the opportunity to give or hear in depth analysis of crucial moments in black history and why they are important to U.S. History as a whole, and when we do we tend to focus on the contributions of black male leaders.
But what about the women that were just as important as their male counterparts? What about the women who were crucial to African empires and were taken from their homelands? Women who lived through the atrocities committed against them during slavery? Women who forever changed music, art and literature during the Harlem Renaissance with their soulful voices, bold visuals and prolific writing? The ones who marched right alongside MLK and were harassed by police when they asked for the same basic rights as white people? What about black women like Michelle Obama who thrive in their careers and as role models?
We don’t get to hear about them nearly enough, and it’s wrong because in a society that often condemns black women just for being black women, knowing about our contributions to U.S. history is crucial to continue flourishing as Americans.
In order to provide SMU students with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the often forgotten contributions of black women to history, the Association of Black Students and Sisters Supporting Sisters present the Progression of the Black Woman. The event uses monologues to showcase the lives of black women through history from pre-slavery to the present. Progression will feature pieces written and performed by SMU students and will take place on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Hughes-Trigg Student Center.
