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Katherine De La Cruz: Response #3

In chapter 1 of Jennifer Morgan’s book she explains how African women’s bodies were dehumanized in order to justify slavery. Early European travelers wrote reports of both Native American and African women. These reports included images and writings that shaped ideologies that othered non europeans. By painting these people as savages, specially the women, Europeans were able to set the groundwork for what would result in the race classifications and the exploitation of black and brown bodies that continues today. One trope that was spoken about throughout the chapter was the idea of black women as having extremely long hanging breasts. Not only did this trope further the idea of black women as reproductive factories it also allowed Europeans to liken them to domesticated animals and beasts. The image of the black mother carrying her child on her back and throwing her breast over her shoulder for them to suck on was an image propagated throughout europe. This image not only helped to solidify black women as  monstrous beings but it allowed for a clear distinction between white women and black women. While white women were weak, dainty and pure black women were depicted as unnaturally strong and masculine. One of the main ways this difference was made clear was through accounts on black women’s childbearing practices. Much of the literature spoke on black women unnatural reproductive abilities. They were said to not feel pain during childbirth and were capable of bearing children and go tend to  their daily work almost immediately after. When compared to white women who were aided by nurses and demonstrated pain and fragility during childbirth it cast black women as in the same category as livestock. If pain during childbirth was a biblical curse that god put upon Eve, the fact that black women apparently did not feel pain proved they were not descendants of Eve and therefore were in the same realm as animals. The hanging breasts were also used to liken black women to beasts. One informant wrote that a woman’s breasts were so long their grazed the floor as she bent to do field work creating the illusion of six legs. Another example was the use of the word “dug” when describing their breasts, a word commonly used for animals. These images all worked together to solidify the idea of African women as subhuman savages. This idea was used to legitimize the enslavement of both african women and men.

Question: What were the differences and similarities between the depictions of Native American women and African women? Why did these differ? Can we see some of the same images being perpetrated in today’s society?