Four Women by Nina Simone: A Compassionate Exploration for Children with Autism on Black Women's Modern Struggles

Mar 14
3 min read

Updated: Apr 26

My niece is one of my favorite people in the world. She has Autism, and she brings us all joy. My sons love their cousin; all three are artistic, self-proclaimed nerds. The boys always try to get her out of her comfort zone. As her aunt, I feel it's my responsibility to cover the important self-actualization topics. Her mom is the provider, but we are her community. This is what community parenting looks like. I choose to ignore the autism and hold her to the standard of any eighteen-year-old. This time, I introduced her to the song Four Women by Nina Simone. I wanted to see what the song could evoke in her neurodivergent mind.

Introduction to Nina Simone’s “Four Women”

My skin is black, my arms are long.

My hair is woolly, my back is strong.

Strong enough to take the pain. It's been inflicted again and again.

What do they call me? My name is Aunt Sarah. My name is Aunt Sarah.

My skin is yellow. My hair is long.

Between two worlds, I do belong.

My father was rich and white; he forced my mother late one night.

What do they call me? My name is Saffronia.

My skin is tan. My hair's alright, it's fine.

My hips invite you, and my lips are like wine.

Whose little girl am I? Well, yours if you have some money to buy.

What do they call me? My name is SWEET THING. My name is Sweet Thing.

My skin is brown, and my manner is tough.

I'll kill the first mother I see because my life has been too rough.

I'm awfully bitter these days because my parents were slaves.

What do they call me? My name is Peaches.

Understanding the Characters in "Four Women"

In the song, Nina Simone creates a genealogy of Black women from slavery to the present. Four characters—Aunt Sarah, Saffronia, Sweet Thing, and Peaches—represent different types of Black women and the lasting legacy of slavery. Each woman speaks for herself, describing her physical traits and how society sees and treats her. What do “they” call her? I see these women as four ways of freedom.

The Heritage of “Aunt Sarah”

Aunt Sarah represents strength despite suffering. She explains the historical pain from slavery and the resilience passed down through generations. Physical pain, emotional pain—every generation manifests this pain in different ways, yet it remains. I used the example of Black women being wet nurses to children that don't belong to them, yet they love those children the same. Black women's strength has also led to their detriment; just look at the maternal morbidity rate in the United States.

The Story of “Saffronia”

Saffronia, a daughter of both Black and white ancestry, symbolizes mixed identity and its challenges. This part brought up colorism. I informed her that the lighter the skin, the greater the amount of trauma. Why should anyone be proud of that? Saffronia faces the struggle of being told, "You are not Black enough," and "You are not White enough."

The Life of “Sweet Thing”

Sweet Thing represents a woman who is seen mainly for her beauty, grappling with objectification. I shared with her the hyper-sexualization of Black women and girls. Childhood cannot be promised. I told her how her mom constantly fights this issue; it's part of my sister's protective instinct.

“Peaches,” the Proud Rebel

Last but not least, we have Peaches. She embodies anger and defiance against injustice. Peaches is the angry Black woman that no one wants to deal with or hear. She can still see the racism today—the unequal pay, the lack of promotions, the microaggressions. I asked her, "Which character is your mom?" and "Which one is your aunt?" She saw my sister as "Aunt Sarah" and me as "Peaches." I told you she was bright!

We then circled back to Black women's exploitation through the lens of Sarah Baartman. Sarah was lied to; she was promised freedom under the guise of a circus freak. Sarah was Saffronia.

Why It Matters: The Power and Pride in These Stories

Understanding these characters is crucial. Here’s why:

Reflection of Real Struggles: Helping individuals see the song as a mirror of real struggles and strength.
Honoring Identity: Recognizing and honoring the pride in the identity and experiences of Black women through art.
Teaching Moments: Using Nina Simone’s song as a teaching moment to spark conversations about race, gender, and history.
Encouraging Empathy: Fostering respect, empathy, and understanding across generations and communities.

Conclusion: Embracing Our Stories

In sharing these stories, we empower ourselves and others. Each character in Four Women has a unique narrative that resonates with many. By discussing these themes, we can help others understand the complexities of identity and the importance of community support.

So, what do you think? How can we use art to foster understanding and growth? Let's keep the conversation going!