Includes bibliographical references and index.

"This book stems from a concern to assist pastoral counselors in developing a therapeutic alliance with African-American women. It focuses on the social construct of the African-American matriarch, which can easily misinform the counselor and cause emotional jeopardy for African-American women who attempt to live up to its expectations"--Provided by publisher.

"This is an innovative work that provides a powerful and accurate definition of the social construct of the African-American female in America. This construct developed from mythical images and ascribed to her have never been critiqued or challenged until interpreted through the lens of Womanism. This work meets head on with the challenges that occur because of the many negative issues that stem from her environment which affect her mental and emotional state of being. This work gives voice to the dilemmas that she face while learning to navigate the tri-dimensional oppressive structures that exists in her first and second cultures. Finally, it provides a model for healing, thereby giving her hope for resolve"--Provided by publisher.