Aunt Sara

Aunt Sarah is one of the four archetypal women in Nina Simone’s powerful song Four Women. The song, released in 1966, tells the stories of four Black women, each representing different aspects of Black womanhood shaped by history, oppression, and identity.

Aunt Sarah is the first woman introduced in the song. She embodies the strength and endurance of Black women, particularly those who suffered under slavery. Her description—“My skin is black, my arms are long, my hair is woolly, my back is strong”—paints a picture of a woman who has endured hardship yet remains unbroken. She represents a legacy of labor, survival, and quiet fortitude.