Rose, in the midst of changes Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Throughout an enduring history of segregation in the United States, the 1950s were one of the periods in which African Americans actively fought for equal rights . Many African American men, such as Martin Luther King Jr., famous for the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56), played a crucial role. African American women, who were under a double burden, were also experiencing changes, although not as visible as those of men. August Wilson, an American playwright, wrote Fences in 1986, which portrays an African-American family living in the 1950s. Rose, one of the main characters, is the wife of Troy, a black garbage truck driver. Rose must support her talkative but commanding husband, who always complains about his failed dream of playing baseball and, reluctantly, blames segregation for his failures. She must act as a mediator in conflicts between her husband and her son. She also has to put up with Troy cheating on her and later even asks her to raise their son out of wedlock. Rose compares herself to other African American women in the 1950s because she is self-sacrificing, not sexually sheltered, yet independent. Rose is sacrificial, like other black women. Even as African American rights movements were underway, the rights of many black women were still vulnerable. Sacrifice was a trait deeply ingrained in African American women due to racism and sexism. Rose's tasks are endless. Rose is not only a housewife who does laundry and prepares meals, but she is also a caregiver and problem solver for almost every member of the family. Rose acts as a mediator whenever Cory, born between Rose and Troy, is in conflict with his father and when their first son Lyon, born to Troy's previous wife, is on bad terms with his father. He also worries and cares for Gabriel, Troy's brother who is mentally retarded after an accident in the army. Despite all her hard work as a mom and wife, Troy tells her he was seeing another woman. Then, Rose angrily tells Troy, “I've tried to be everything a wife should be. Everything a wife could be. (2.1.235-236) Even when Troy brings the child born to the woman with whom he cheats on him and asks Rose to take care of the child, Rose agrees to raise him. Rose is not alone in her sacrifices as a woman. In her article, “Mammies and Matriarchs: Tracing Images of the Black Female in Popular Culture 1950s to Present,” Sewell investigates popular culture of the 1950s to observe the imagery of black women. Most women depicted in pop culture are seen as “constant sources of help” (Sewell). Rather than as individual women, black women of the 1950s, like Rose, were viewed as mothers and wives who must dedicate their lives to their family. Rose's sexuality is not protected, like that of other black women in the 1950s. Rose is not raped or sexually abused outside the home in the play, unlike many black women. Nor does Troy sexually abuse Rose. However, Troy's attitude and speech towards Rose indicates that Troy does not respect Rose's sexuality. It appears that Rose has no power over her sex life and that Troy is in control. In the presence of his friend Bono, Troy often revealed parts of his sex life with Rose, which require privacy without the other party's consent. Troy puts his arm around Rose and tells Bono, "Don't come to my house on Monday morning and talk about work time... 'cause I'm stillstroking!" He continued his behavior even though Rose scolded him, saying, “Troy! Stop it now!” (1.1.536-543) This does not happen once. Troy again in front of Bono said, “Is dinner ready, woman? You and I have business to take care of. I'll tear it up too." Rose replied, "Troy, I already told you!" (1.4.437-439) One might see this as just playful banter that means nothing. Yet, Meyer Leyser in his article, “Strange Love”: Searching for Sexual subjectivities in Black Print Popular Culture during the 1950s, analyzes several articles, letters, and other print cultures to observe the subjectivity and distorted image of African American women's sexuality In 1951 an article written by a anonymous author, titled “Sexual Habits of Negro Women” stated that African American women are “extraordinarily sensual Other printed pieces insinuate that black women were more sexually deviant and less sexually respectful (Meyer). 1950s was often distorted and unprotected as Rose's sexuality was disrespected by Troy. This twisted image of black women's sexuality is not reduced to simple images. These may indicate potential sexual abuse or harassment of women of color. The white male is usually thought of as a sexual aggressor against black women. However, between 1951 and 1960, of the twenty-six sex crimes on trial in Chicago, nineteen cases, or 73 percent, included African American victims testifying against African American defendants, except one case (Flood). As the study showed, African American men's failure to respect black women's sexuality has a close relationship with sex crimes. Therefore, Rose's and other African American women's sexuality was not respected and protected in the 1950s. Despite her sacrifices and sexual vulnerability, she was as independent as other African American women. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “independent” means not subject to the control of others; do not require or rely on others; expressing a desire for freedom. After Troy revealed he was having an affair, Rose clearly showed her desire for freedom. This could be seen when Rose shouted at Troy during their argument: “I have a life too. I gave eighteen years of my life to be in the same place with you. Don't you think I've ever wanted other things? Don't you think I had dreams and hopes? And my life? And me?” (2.1.326-330) Although he endured his life, his repressed desires for freedom finally exploded. The desperate desire for freedom doesn't just apply to Rose. According to Feldstein Ruth in her writings, "The World Was on Fire: Black Women Entertainers and Transnational Activism in the 1950s", activist-entertainers including Maya Angelou, "brought attention to unequal relations between blacks and whites" . and relationships between men and women." Black women called for freedom as wives and as African Americans through entertainment (Feldstein 1-2). In an economic sense, many African American women were also independent. In his article, Craig W. Heinicke focuses on changes in the labor force of married African American women in the South from 1950 to 1960. His observations say that while African male labor force participation rates fell from 79.3% to 73.9%, the female workforce increased from 37.1% to 39% between 1950 and 1960 (Heinicke). This “independence” of black women points to the changing changes of women in the 1950s, which was the period immediately preceding passionate black activism. Rose was a black woman in the midst of those shifting moments, transitioning from sacrificial housewife to independent woman. In conclusion, as a residue.