Minority groups are generally viewed in the context of race; however, a minority group can also consist of gender and social class. The struggles faced by a minority group become even more complicated when these different facets of minority categories combine in what is sometimes called a double minority. Throughout their writings, African American women have 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 dual minority status. The female characters in Song of Solomon present the difficulties of being a double minority. Macon Dead and his family are a prominent, middle-class African-American family. Although slavery is long gone, the House of the Dead resembles a prison. Macon seems to be the master of his house and the women of his family seem trapped under his rule. Macon's control over his family is revealed in these lines: Macon kept each member of his family hampered by fear. His hatred for his wife shone and burst in every word he said to her. The disappointment he felt in his daughters spread over them like ashes... The way he mutilated their grace, their spirit and their self-esteem was the only excitement of their days. p. 10-11These sentences make it seem like Macon killed the spirits of his wife and daughters. Its cruelty is an expected turn-on because it is the only stimulation they have throughout the day. Additionally, these lines make it seem like the women of the House of the Dead have less voice and less choice under Macon's money and rule. Macon's Daughter, First Corinthians, also exemplifies the struggles of Africa...... middle of paper... ...minorities, but they 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 have to deal with African American issues as well as the dilemmas they 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 Health Anthology of American Literature, Vol 1, 3rd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998. Middleton, David. Toni Morrison Fiction: Contemporary Criticism. New York: Garland, 1997. Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. New York: Penguin Group, 1977.