McGuire, the author, uncovers the untold history of black women

McGuire, the author, uncovers the untold history of black women

McGuire, the author, uncovers the untold history of black women and focuses on the sexual assault case of Recy Taylor from Alabama (Pg. 4). McGuire describes how Taylor, who was 24 years, was abducted and sexually assaulted by six men, and her case was ignored even after identifying one of the therapists. Taylor’s case became a national cause in the African-American community in 1944 since her case ignored, and through Rosa Parks, various activists’ campaigns launched in support of Taylor (Pg. 7). Being an investigator of the national association for the advancement of people of color (NAACP), Rosa Parks managed through campaigns to force the Governor to reopen Taylor’s case. Even thou Rosa Parks managed to document Taylor’s case of injustice, there were still no charges filed.

After World War 2, sexual violence and cases of interracial rape became popular upon which the African American community sought to fight white supremacy and gain political and personal autonomy. Civil rights and activists in Florida, North Carolina, Washington, Georgia, Little Rock, Mississippi, Alabama, and Hattiesburg, among other states, had organized resistance against sexual violence and sought the protection of black women (Pg. 9). During this period, there was a struggle between black and white supremacies, and these led to the rise of activist leaders such as Martin Luther King. To date, the civil rights movements were all rooted in the long struggle of African American women against sexual violence.

In Montgomery, Alabama, black female riders frequently subjected to verbal and physical abuse, and those who refused to obey bus drivers subjected and violently attacked. During this time, most black women stopped riding the buses since it was much easier than trying to raise their cases of assault. In 1995, Rosa Parks refused to follow an order by James F. Blake, a bus driver, to relinquish her seat (Pg. 38). These resulted in Rosa’s arrest, which later led to the Montgomery bus boycott, which took a yearlong to end the Montgomery buses. In my view, I agree that men received more credit than women since most of the events that occurred during this time discriminated against and assaulted women in one way or another. McGuire attitude reflected more on struggles and injustices that African American women had to undergo and the rise of local groups in America.

In 1959, Betty Jean Owens stood in front of an all-white jury and testified on her case being kidnapped and gang-raped by four violent white men. Her case was extraordinary since it mainly focused on the exploitation of African women. These led to the Florida A&M University community to come together after Betty’s rape incident and fight for civil rights and justice on women (Pg. 15). Betty Jean Owens was a college student, and this is the main reason why Florida A&M civil activists had to unit and fight in hand with black student protesters.

Norman Cannon was a white man who abducted and raped a black teenager in Mississippi (Pg. 16). He had a broader implication on both the African American freedom struggle and the Mississippi movement. Norman’s verdict was recognized as a national victory and ought to be considered a bookend of the modern civil rights movements. It was a significant case since it showed that black women had the right to be protected from sexual assaults and that the African American community deserved equal rights.