Typically minority groups are thought of in the context of race; however, a minority group can also consist of gender and class. The struggles facing a minority group are further complicated when these different aspects of minority categories are combined into what is sometimes called a double minority. In their writings, African American women exposed how being a double minority changes the conditions of being a minority. In Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, African American female characters demonstrate the impact of having dual minority status. The female characters of the Song of Songs show the difficulties of double minorities. Macon Dead and his family are a prominent, middle-class African-American family. Even though slavery ended long ago, the house of the Dead feels like a prison. Macon seems to be the master of the house and the women of his family seem to be trapped under his rule. Macon's control over his family is revealed in these lines: Macon kept every member of his family embarrassed in fear. His hatred for his wife shone and sparkled in every word he said to her. The disappointment he felt in his daughters fell on them like ashes... The way he destroyed their grace, their wits and their self-esteem was the only excitement of their days. P. 10-11These sentences give the impression that Macon killed the spirit of his wife and daughters. Its cruelty is an anticipated excitement because it is the only stimulation they have during the day. Furthermore, these lines give the sense that the women in the Dead family have less voice and less choice under Macon's money and rule. Macon's daughter, First Corinthians, also exemplifies the struggles of Africa... center of paper... ...minorities, but face more extreme consequences and struggles. Maybe it's because they have to deal with the dynamics of all the minority groups they belong to. In the case of African American women, they struggle with African American issues and dilemmas that women face. However, African American women appear to have overcome their dual minority status to some extent. African American women writers are much more popular today than their male counterparts. Works CitedGage, Frances D. "Reminiscences by Frances D. Gage of Sojourner Truth, for May 28-29, 1851." Paul Laufer, ed. The Heath Anthology of American Literature, vol 1, 3rd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998. Middleton, David. The Fiction of Toni Morrison: Contemporary Criticism. New York: Garland, 1997. Morrison, Toni. Song of Songs. New York: Penguin Group, 1977.