Summary Of Patricia Hill Collins Sucking The Chicken Bone Dry

The controlling images and stereotypes that surround African Americans on a daily basis are meant to oppress and define the culture in which they live in, ultimately objectifying them in the process. The indefinite struggle that African American women must face due to these controlling images are highlighted throughout Patricia Hill Collins’ novel, Black Feminist Thought. She also embraces a sense of self-empowerment in an attempt to negate these images which were created by the dominant other, reinforcing that these images are typically maintained to justify the ideology of race, gender, and class oppression. Likewise, within Psyche A. Williams’ article, “Sucking the Chicken Bone Dry”, she explains the historical aspect in which stereotypes were created, mainly through the idea of a “chicken loving darky.” Through these exceptional readings, I can understand the plethora …show more content…
Patricia Hill Collins asserts that the constant bombardment of these images through media have rendered Black women defenseless, as they are forced to internalize such pervasive images. Hill Collins discusses the constant spreading of these images through rap music and states, “Popular culture has become increasingly important in promoting these images, especially with new global technologies [...] images of Black women sexually available hoochies persist in Black music videos” (Collins 85). Not only does the endless assault come from White families, African American rappers do it also. Through this, one can recognize the very conflicting life of an African American, as they too perpetuate these images— ultimately making it harder for these Black women to escape them. The Black women must then find a place of solace where they can constantly negate these images and create their own sense of culture and