"Black Women and Motherhood"

by: Patricia Hill Collins

In "Black Women and Motherhood," Patricia Hill Collins describes the institution of motherhood for African American females. She explains how "motherhood" in African American communities can take on more than the traditional, white, biological mother. African American families often include bloodmothers, othermothers and women-centered networks.

The biological mother is most frequently the primary caretaker of her chidren. However, due to stringent employment responsibilities, biological mothers often have help - othermothers. These mothers (aunts, sisters, grandmothers, etc.) provide childcare and emotiuonal support most often while the biological mother works. The third representation of motherhood is "fictive kin" in which childcare is provided by people who are not biologically related to the child. These women provide support most often to children who are abandoned or have little interaction with their biological mother.

Collins believes this type of "community" motherhood is especially important because all children have a sense of belonging. In addition, black women form a sisterhood in which black children are referred to using a universal language ("our children") regardless of biology. She also states that this motherhood is empowering for African American women. It provides reproductive power in which women are able to speak to and through their children by self-identification.

Collins points out occasions where motherhood, while highly valued, also has some negative consequences for the mother. She mentions the increase in poverty rates and low income for black women which contribute to poor health care for mothers and fetuses. As a result, black children have more medical problems at birth, and more black women are susceptible to dying from abortions.

Collins believes that African American motherhood is an important issue that is poorly studied. Through a developed analysis and education on this issue, feminism could benefit by developing into a discipline that includes all women; rather than the white feminist perspective alone.

reading notes by: Connie Silbernagel