Example Of Article Review On Understanding The Plight Of Women During The Reconstruction Era

Though many historians have written much on the plight of women in the past societies, it seems that much of their efforts have only focused on the white women. Issues of rape and lack of honor for women have existed for the years, but most of the analysis on this issue never focused on the black women. In her book, Clinton, analyzes some of the aspects that many historians have always ignored. It is clear that Clinton, 2015 analyzes these issues and shows how they reflect the plight of black women, an issue that many have never explored before.
Clinton (319) seeks to make people understand the violence that women went through during the error of reconstruction. The main idea is not to try and show that violence against women is equal to the violence against men, but rather to make it clear that there were a lot of atrocities that were committed against women during this period. As well, she makes it clear that exploitation continued against women, despite the change of laws. The argument that Catherine postulate is that we should confront this evidence and get alive to it. Her perspective is that we confront this evidence we shall just be more informed on them.
Her use of imagery adds even more sense to her arguments. Ideally, pictures speak 1000 words, and this is what can be seen in this image. For instance, the picture on pg. 316 demonstrates the fact that while people are keen to commemorate the atrocities of women, it was important that they remember black women. The picture brings out the idea that people are busy commemorating the plight of women, yet they fail to look at the black women. It also says that as these people come here to commemorate the other things they should remember is the plight of this other forgotten group.
It is evident that black women experienced so many atrocities that need to be highlighted. A good case in point is when Patience Thompson is denied justice when a man forces her to sell him a shop, and even goes ahead to beat her. The fact that the jury refuses to support her and even forces her to pay the court cost is a blatant abuse of the black women. The same case happens to four black women in Virginia County. A white man forces his way into their house and beats them. When they go to court, the man is not even cautioned. This means that such behavior is tolerated by the court. When a black woman abuses a white woman, she is given a harsh sentence as seen in the case of Viney Scarlet. There seems to be the application of double standards when it comes to dealing with violence against white and black women. These are evidence that we need to confront so that we can be alive to these facts.
My thought in the cases such as the one recorded on pg. 328-329 is that cases of the race violation were so rampant, especially on women. It is a time for us to look at the reality that black women went through, and if such cases took place, then there is a need for more research. I think we need to get alive to the fact that as the struggle for freedom has only been focused on men, women were the ones that faced even bitter ordeals.
Ideally, this article provides important information on the need to realize the atrocities that black women went through the time of reconstruction. There is a need for the society not only to focus on the white women but also the black women. There is a lot of information in this article that makes it a good source of insights especially for students. Students studying issues related to feminism, black women struggle and history can find this article quite resourceful.

Work Cited

Clinton, Catherine. 'Bloody Terrain: Freedwomen, Sexuality And Violence During Reconstruction'. Academia.edu. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 Feb. 2015.