Purpose of Meeting
This presentation takes participants on a walk-through history telling the stories of some women whom many may not know. Anderson will speak about the women of color in 1760 French America who figured out how to legally free themselves from slavery only to be bound by government laws, women like Sarah Bartman who had to choose between being a circus oddity or a slave, and how women like Sarah Breedlove and Ann Malone changed the way women of African descent saw themselves—how these women redefined beauty. Anderson will also reflect on a recent development: our society has started to see women of color as beautiful. Anderson will illuminate history filled with women of color who refused to view themselves through social limitation. She hopes to inspire others to decide for themselves what beauty is.
Karen J. Anderson is an artist, writer, photographer, publisher and filmmaker. She uses a variety of methods to uplift, inform and educate African Americans and people of color. Anderson’s artwork is about life and the people who live it. The images tell stories that can inform to the way of life in the community, uplift with the beauty that comes from the community and educate the rest of the world about the community. Anderson has an MA in New Art Journalism from the School of the Arts Institute in Chicago. She presented her paper, “More Than A Color: The Marginalization of African American Beauty” at the 2021 National Conference of Black Political Scientists. It was published in the Roots Work Journal. She had her article “Best Trip Ever” published in Chicken Soup For the Soul I’m Speaking Now in 2021. She has also an article published in the anthology Mamas, Martyrs and Jezebels titled “It Ain’t Easy Being Independent.” In 2023-2025 she presented the work for Illinois Humanities Road Scholar program throughout the state of Illinois.
Hosted by the non-profit, Untold Histories, Mary Frances, President, as part of a black history lecture series. Funded by Illinois Humanities.