Mothers of Movements: Black Matriarchs and Civil Rights Activism

By Levi Perrin | Word In Black (WIB) – The Black matriarch stands resolute as the cornerstone of Black America — a beacon of wisdom that commands audience and allegiance. The heartbeat of the community, sustaining and nurturing generations with grace and the courage to propel us into a future, was once only imagined.  Imagine the matriarchs of every family and community: a figure of boundless grace and power whose influence ripples far beyond the confines of her family–both by blood and association.& RELATED:& Your Right to Peacefully Protest Is Under Attack Across America She is the shepherd of ancestral knowledge and traditions, passing down stories of struggle and triumph like precious heirlooms. In a community where systemic obstacles have historically loomed large, the matriarch has been a source of unwavering support, nurturing dreams in the face of adversity. In the modern Civil Rights Movement, Black women leaders emerged with force, armed with determination and poised to lead, even when they were suppressed and denied.. They stood at the forefront of dangerous calls to action, often overlooked and caught between the double missile of racism and misogynoir.& Consider the blinding light of Ella Baker’s position and presence. Her belief in...