Final answer:
African American women have been traditionally described as assertive and self-sufficient in recent historical critiques, challenging earlier racist portrayals and recognizing their significant role in fighting against systemic injustices and advocating for self-determination.
Step-by-step explanation:
Traditionally, African American women have been portrayed in conflicting ways, which reflects a history of complex social dynamics in the United States. Recent historical analysis has often described African American women as assertive and self-sufficient, challenging earlier portrayals that stemmed from racist and prejudiced views. For example, historical critique often depicted black women as ignorant and lazy, which was a reflection of the narrow-mindedness and racist assumptions of the times. These assumptions persisted to justify the status quo and to suggest that racism was a problem of the past, ignoring African American contributions and rights. Contemporary observers have revised some of these views, acknowledging African American women's key role in fighting against racism, discrimination, and for legal and social liberation, as shown by the actions of leaders like Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells. Furthermore, during the civil rights era and beyond, conservative black women demonstrated a distinct voice within the community, emphasizing the importance of black business, self-determination, and self-help work ethics. These women, such as Zora Neale Hurston and Helen Edmonds, advocated for policies that supported their presence in the business world, diverging from traditional conservative views at the time. In summary, the traditional description of African American women as assertive and self-sufficient (Option A) aligns more closely with contemporary scholarly understanding, which appreciates the complexities of their experiences and contributions to society.