ABSTRACT
She is the amalgamation of centuries-old assumptions and enduring comfort. She is a cultural enigma, parading dual identities at once and challenging notions of class, race, and sex stereotypes that have existed since the beginning of time (Parks, 2010). She presents herself in a way that centers her strength and suppresses her anger. Her strength is a combination of historical and cultural requirements, wrapped in faith and selflessness. Her anger rises when the strength subsides, an inevitable switch because the two prevailing tropes involve a lot of code switching. She is financially disadvantaged, even when she makes a good living, because she is often the breadwinner and primary caregiver of those in her family and community who need help. She is oftentimes blamed and vilified for emasculating men and intimidating women, even though those characterizations and accusations are not legitimately based on her actions or intentions.
