No Place to Rest

In recent years, feminist scholars and black popular culture have turned a critical eye on the myth of the “strong black woman,” revealing negative health and psychological consequences for African American women who try to fulfill the superhuman image. This study is the first to bring empirical evidence to bear on this question of the political effects of the myth. Using data collected in the 1999 Chicago African American Attitudes Study, this article addresses the political consequences of the myth of the strong black woman, specifically asking: How is the myth of the strong black woman understood among African Americans and how does the idea that black women are endowed with a natural, superhuman capacity to overcome obstacles affect black political attitudes?