The poem starts by presenting the woman as naked, whereby her black skin is the clothing. The color of her skin is life. Life here implies birth. Her offsprings inherit this trait, which marks them out of all other races of the world. Her dark, beautiful skin protects her children and tenders them. The persona remembers how his mother cared and brought him up. ‘In your shadow I have grown up/ the gentleness of your hands was laid over my eyes’ Lines 4 – 5.

From the tone of the persona we can see, he is writing in retrospect. We should bear in mind that Leopold Sedar Senghor wrote this poem while he was away in France for studies. So, we can see why he speaks from the point he remembers and wishes to return to his mother, who can be his birth mother or the land of Africa personified.

In the next stanza, he metaphorically refers to the black woman’s sound when making love to her man. ‘… muttering under the conqueror’s fingers/Your solemn contralto voice is the spiritual song of the beloved…’ Also, this line can mean the fate of Africans as the power Imperialist and colonialists subdued them. They surrendered to the conquerors’ strength. Also, the stanza reminds us of the towering drumming sounds common to ancient Africa, which is used to waken and prepare the warriors for the war. Underneath these drumming war beats is the soothing voice of the African women that calms the nerves of their beloved ones.

The rest of the stanzas discuss how calm and reassuring the black woman is. He compares her to ‘a calm oil’ that can’t be ruffled but possessed a soothing power on her children. Line 21 ‘Oil that no breath ruffles, calm oil on the athlete’s flank.’ In addition, he states the shiny nature of her skin and how she protects her children on and off the continent.

In conclusion, the poet reveals his fear of losing the beauty of the black woman, which will soon be taken away by jealous fate. The beauty of the black woman will fade and die, but the poem will leave eternally because the poet has immortalized her in his poem. He also stated that her beauty would rejuvenate because she had fed the roots of life with her beauty. We can also say the poet calls for the resurrection of Africa’s culture and heritage, which have died with Westernization.

Now, we have seen the analysis of the black woman let’s look at the use of symbolism. “Black Woman” by Leopold Sedar Senghor, is symbolic. “Black Woman” represents Africa, who was raped and dehumanized by the Westerners, leaving Africa bare. The poet uses the Black Woman to sensitize Africans to regain their pride. The Black Woman also represents the motherly nature of African women who survived slavery.