Three Historiographical Considerations Played an Important Role in my Decision to Write a History of Black Women in the United States.

Reading Comprehension Question

Three historiographical considerations played an important role in my decision to write a history of Black women in the United States. First, I was persuaded that Black people and White people in the United States clearly represent two different cultures, with different traditions and oftentimes diametrically opposed past experiences. The same may hold true for the two sexes, whose roles, history, and contributions seem on close examination to be almost different enough to constitute different cultures. Of course, all groups share a common history. I do not believe that recognizing the existence of large cultural subdivisions means succumbing to separatism, cultural nationalism, and a narrow particularistic vision. Our historical perceptions can only be enriched by accepting the fact that, since sex and race are frequently used (however unfairly) to assign certain roles and statuses to people, these people have had different historical experiences from those of the dominant group.

Second, I became convinced that standard histories of the United States have tended to overlook the contributions and viewpoints of Black Americans and women. I hope and expect that the present generation of United States historians will rectify this mistake, recognizing that women and Blacks were there and that their special contributions to the building and shaping of American society were different from those of White men. In the meantime, a Separate history of Black women is needed.

Finally, I had to consider the role that a White historian can legitimately play in the writing of Black history. Certainly, historians who are members of the culture about which they write will bring a special quality to their material. Their understandings are apt to be different from those of an outsider. But scholars from outside a culture have frequently had a view that contrasts with the view of those closely involved in and bound by their own culture. These angles of vision are complementary in arriving at an accurate picture of the past. The interpretation of the Black past made by Blacks will probably be somewhat different from that made by Whites. This does not mean that Black history can or should be interpreted only by Blacks. It should be interpreted by both groups, So that, in the juxtaposition of different interpretations, in debate, and in the clash of opinions, a richer and fuller, and more solidly based history will emerge.

“Three historiographical considerations played an important role in my decision to write a history of Black women in the United States.”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 6 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analysing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

Question 1: A primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) resolve a historiographical dispute
(B) discuss a controversial historiographical perspective
(C) compare and contrast three alternative historiographical approaches
(D) set forth the author’s positions on three historiographical issues
(E) question the validity of three historiographical methods used by other historians

Question 2: The passage most likely appeared as

(A) part of the preface to a scholarly book
(B) a rebuttal to a previously published scholarly article
(C) part of a book review in a scholarly journal
(D) a condensed version of an article in a scholarly journal
(E) a complete entry in an encyclopedia of the social sciences.

Question 3: The author implies that which of the following if they existed, would be most likely to make a separate history of Black women in the United States unnecessary?

(A) Standard histories of the United States that include information about American women in their appendices
(B) Comprehensive histories of the United States that include the contributions and viewpoints of women and Blacks
(C) Universalistic histories of the United States that emphasize the common experiences of men and women, Whites and minorities
(D) Collections of articles written by Blacks and Whites that contain similar interpretations of Black history in the United States
(E) Collections of articles written by Black women that present their interpretations of their own history in the United States

Question 4: The author’s recommendation for achieving the best possible interpretation of the Black past indicates that, if the staff of a government commission were collecting information about a controversial issue, the author would be most likely to approve of which of the following procedures?

(A) The staff does historical research on the issue and presents the results to the commission.
(B) The staff interviews people on both sides of the issue and presents their differing views to the commission.
(C) The staff interviews people on both sides of the issue, finds points of agreement in their views and presents these points to the commission.
(D) The staff interviews people on both sides of the issue, decides which viewpoint is more widespread, and presents that viewpoint to the commission.
(E) The staff interviews only people who are known not to have strong opinions about the issue and presents their viewpoints to the commission.

Question 5: In discussing the likelihood that “the present generation of United States historians will rectify this mistake”, the author’s tone is

(A) arrogant
(B) sentimental
(C) optimistic
(D) ironic
(E) apologetic

Question 6: Which of the following descriptions of the author and her interests can best be inferred from the passage?

(A) The author is a Black historian primarily interested in the history of Black women in the United States.
(B) The author is a White historian primarily interested in the history of Black women in the United States.
(C) The author is a White historian primarily interested in the history of male and female members of minority groups in the United States
(D) The author is a Black historian primarily interested in the history of female members of minority groups in the United States.
(E) The author is a White historian primarily interested in the history of female members of minority groups in the United States.

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