2005. This thesis discusses about the struggle of Afro-American women condition in segregation era who tried to overcome the oppressions they experienced from Whites and Black men, and then strove to gain their self-actualization. Black women’s struggle to gain their self-actualization is reflected in The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The data consist of main data and secondary data. The main data consist of the dialogue, narrative, and any other significant information taken from the novel which are related to the problem statement. The secondary data are taken from books, articles, and o nline media that give supporting information to the primary data.

The purpose of this thesis is to know what oppressions were experienced by Afro-American women as reflected in The Color Purple and to describe the struggle of Afro-American women in gaining their self-actualization as reflected in The Color Purple.

In order to achieve the goal, the writer employs interdisciplinary approach that includes a number of particular approaches. The first o ne is literary approach. It is used to explore the intrinsic aspects and their connections within the novel as a literary work. The second is socio-historical approach. It is used to know the history and social condition of the society which become the background of the novel. The third o ne is feminism approach. This approach, especially Black feminist approach, is used since the novel presents the changing condition of Afro-American women. The analysis leads the writer to conclude that the oppressions which were experienced by Afro-American women were from White people and Black men. From Whites, Afro-American women experienced racism, while from Black men who adopted the Eurocentric Gender ideology in their family, Black women experienced sexual harrassment, abusive treatment, and gender discrimination. Nevertheless, the oppressions which were experienced by Afro-American women did not just make them remain in their sorrow, but o n the other hand it has raised their rebellious spirit. They fought against the oppressions to gain their freedom. They also attempted to actualize their self-identity through many ways. Moreover Black women also strengthen the solidarity among Black women called Black sisterhood to resist the oppressions.