ABSTRACT
In African-American communities, fluid and changing boundaries often distinguish biological mothers from other women who care for children. Biological mothers, or bloodmothers, are expected to care for their children. Black mothers of daughters face a troubling dilemma. On one hand, to ensure their daughters’ physical survival, mothers must teach them to fit into systems of oppression. Black women’s experiences as othermothers provide a foundation for Black women’s political activism. Nurturing children in Black extended family networks stimulates a more generalized ethic of caring and personal accountability among African-American women who often feel accountable to all the Black community’s children. Motherhood—whether bloodmother, othermother, or community othermother— can be invoked by African-American women as a symbol of power. Much of Black women’s status in African-American communities stems not only from actions as mothers in Black family networks but from contributions as community other-mothers. Black women’s involvement in fostering African-American community development forms the basis for community-based power.
