Colored Girl

“The term “colored girl” is almost a term of reproach in the social life of America is all too true; she is not known and hence not believed in; she belongs to a race that is best designated by the term “problem,” and she lives beneath the shadow of that problem which envelopes and obscures her.”

To this day this quote is still true in various ways. African American women are looked down upon and always associated with may stereotypes, mainly problems. When she strives to succeed, who is there to motivate her and push her own? Certainly not society. In this article, Fannie Barrier Williams depicts the treatment of colored women and questions why. Williams explains how the colored woman is beautiful and has charm and a great charater just like other women but she is depised by the white manhood. Also, while other races of women are admired and worshiped while the "colored girl" 'abides in his shadow of contempt, mistrust, and indifference.'(150) Williams throws out question after question trying to get her reader to understand what is the basis of the treatment of the "colored girl". She uses examples to compare "White" and "Black" woman and wants to know what is the difference. Williams staes "color is only skin deep". No matter how true this statement is, people even today still look no further the a person's skin and that's how they judge a person. To Williams understanding, she belives that the cause of all the "colored girl's" mistreatmen is because of "race prejudice". In my opinion, this staement is very true. During this time period, all "Whites" cared about was exorting their authority and making everyone else beneath them. Their was no other reason than them being the 'supreme beings' especyially compared to "Blacks". The black man as well as the white degrade the "colored girl" therefore, who does she have on her side? No one, except her fellow "colored women. They have to take a stand for each other and prosper because they can't do it waiting on the "White" or "Black" men. Williams ends by stating that "colored women" have just as much right as any other woman or man in society and the only way for them to be exalted is to place a higher premium on character than they do upon the occupation of the "colored girl"