5 Interesting Facts Black Women Can Proudly Claim

Mother Africa by BenHeine Black Women are the Mothers of Humanity Africans were the first to inhabit the Earth. Fossil records as well as DNA analysis give scientific evidence to support this fact. Therefore, the first woman to give birth was a black African woman. It is from her that all humans have come. Mitochondrial DNA analysis has traced all human beings back to one Black woman who is estimated to have lived between 99,000 and 200,000 years ago, most likely in East Africa, when Homo sapiens sapiens (anatomically modern humans) were developing as a population distinct from other human subspecies. Early African civilizations understood the importance of the woman as the creator of life. This is why many African civilizations developed matrilineal societies where the woman was the central figure. That does not mean women dominated the men, but rather that men learned to respect and appreciate the importance of the Black women. Black Women Were The First Women to Rule The earliest females in recorded history to rule nations were African women. The best-known female ruler was the Egyptian Pharaoh Hatshepsut (1503 to 1482 B.C.), dubbed "The Ablest Queen of Far Antiquity" by historians. While several male rivals sought to oust her from power, Hatshepsut withstood their challenges to remain head of what was then the world’s leading nation for 33 years. To help enhance her popularity with the people of Egypt, Hatshepsut had a number of spectacular temples and pyramids erected, some of which still stand today as a testament to one of the most successful female rulers in history. Although it was uncommon for ancient Egypt to be ruled by a woman, it was not unprecedented. Hatshepsut is the first for which the detailed records have been discovered, but other Black women before her held the highest title of the land. The 18th dynasty pharaoh was preceded by Merneith of the first dynasty, Nimaethap of the third dynasty, Nitocris of the sixth dynasty, Queen Sobekneferu of the 12th dynasty, and the warrior queen, Ahhotep I of the 17th dynasty. Black Women Produce the Strongest Babies In his book, The Developmental Psychology of the Black Child, Dr. Amos Wilson uses test results taken from the research of white social scientists to show that contrary to being inferior to whites, Black children show superior psychomotor development over European children. He writes: "Whenever motor differences between white and Black American infants have been noted in research literature, the Black babies have been advanced in comparison with the whites.... this is also the case with Black children of other nationalities, particularly of African origin." According to University of Florida researchers, Black baby girls born weighing 2.2 pounds or less are more than twice as likely to survive as white baby boys born at the same weight, when many preemies are still too tiny to make it on their own. Analyzing data from more than 5,000 premature births, UF researchers pinpointed a link between gender and race and the survival rates of babies born at extremely low weights, according to findings released Jan. 3, 2006, in the journal Pediatrics. It is the first scientific evidence of a phenomenon doctors have observed for years, said Dr. Steven B. Morse, a UF assistant professor of pediatrics and the article’s lead author. Black Woman Consistently Fight on The Frontlines For The Black Community For centuries Black women have been at the forefront of our struggle for freedom. Some have used religious practices or social and political endeavors, others have used the sword or the gun to demand freedom, racial justice, gender equality, and economic security for their children and communities. Assata Shakur took bullets for the cause. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus and sparked a boycott that changed America. Harriet Tubman helped more than 300 slaves escape the South on the Underground Railroad. Nanny led the Maroons and nearly brought the British military in Jamaica to their knees, while Yaa Asantewaa and Queen Nzinga showed European slave traders just how costly it is to try to oppress African people led by a strong Black woman. The list of fearless, intelligent women who fought against oppression goes on and on. Black Women Have Black Men There are many Black men who recognize that their women have a lot to be proud about. Both Black men and women fought racial oppression, often side-by-side, and together we have learned how to survive and thrive, despite its existence. Major media outlets, books, blogs, and society at large have persistently propagated misconceptions about Black love and relationships. On the heels of all the doom and gloom news and stories about Black-on-Black love is the supposed cure: interracial relationships. However, statistics show that Black men have not abandoned their women as is portrayed in the mainstream media. The vast majority of them are still opting for a relationship with a sister. According to Howard University researcher Ivory A. Toldson, 88 percent of married African-American men – of all education and income levels – marry Black women. Most rich and successful Black men do not choose to marry outside of their race: 83 percent of six-figure-earning brothers and 85 percent of college educated African-American men find a Black woman to call his wife, reported Toldson. Sources: http://www.livescience.com/38613-genetic-adam-and-eve-uncovered.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatshepsut

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