A Black Feminist Perspective on Empowering Women in Elizabeth Alexander’s “Absence” and “The Girls”

Abstract

The historical experience of Black women, particularly during the period of enslavement, is marked by identity manipulation rooted in the intersection of race, gender, and class. This study uses Black feminist theory to comprehend and challenge these complex dynamics. It aims to analyze Elizabeth Alexander’s two poems, “Absence” and “The Girls,” to justify that fact through contextual poetic evidence. The study argues that these women were historically absent during the transatlantic slave trade. It also examines Black women’s resilience, their pursuit of empowerment in the face of systemic injustice, and the complexities of identity construction. This analysis contributes to an understanding of Black women’s experiences and highlights the power of Black feminist thought in literary inquiry.