A Study Of Womanist Motherhood In The Color Purple

Feminists generally believe that motherhood is a central issue in feminism. Many western feminists deem that it is motherhood that leads to women's oppression. Their view is sharply different from that of African American. In African American culture, motherhood centers upon the empowerment of children and it is a site of power for black women.As a black female writer, Alice Walker is able to share the wide range of feelings that only belong to the blacks and women. Thus, she shows great concern for the marginalized groups, especially black women, and motherhood, without any doubt, continues an important theme in her masterpiece The Color Purple. Incorporating three basic topics of African American motherhood with Walker's womanist ideas, this thesis seeks to examine that womanist motherhood should include three important aspects, namely nurturing and preserving children, passing on the African American culture, and loving and unifying all people. Then it carries on a detailed analysis of the novel to explore womanist motherhood embodied in it.Through an intensive study of The Color Purple, we will see that nearly all the black women are compelled to be separated from their own children and have to become othermothers because of sexism and racism. In spite of that, these black mothers devote themselves to mothering black children as the children's biological mothers do. Furthermore, they attach great importance to motherline because it represents the ancestral memory and traditional values of African American culture. Through some popular black folk customs, they pass on their distinctive culture to each successive generation of children. In addition, they not only love their children and sisters, but also they extend the maternal love to black men and even to all people of different races and colors. It is the most distinguished feature of womanist motherhood for it aims to get rid of sexism and racism. In short, the theory of womanist motherhood sets an inspiring example for all the people in the world to unite together and work hard for a harmonious society.