Ugly Ways (1993) by Tina McElroy Ansa has been overlooked as a significant contribution to African American feminist literary fiction. This paper performs a close reading examining the novel’s thematic intersection of Black feminist theory and trauma theory. Part one of this essay defines Black feminist theory and outlines key concepts of Black feminist thought. Parts two and three focus on the protagonist, Esther “Mudear” Lovejoy, and analyze her “change” through the lenses of Black feminist theory and trauma theory, respectively, highlighting the ways in which Ugly Ways articulates a conception of Black womanhood defined in equal parts by empowerment and psychic pain. Part four argues that Black feminist theory and trauma theory are not just compatible, but consonant. Ultimately, Ugly Ways depicts African American women as complex human subjects and moves beyond conventional historical, literary, and popular representations.

Tina McElroy Ansa的Ugly Ways（1993）被视为对非洲裔美国女性主义文学小说的重大贡献。本文仔细研究了小说中黑人女性主义理论与创伤理论的主题交集。本文的第一部分定义了黑人女性主义理论，并概述了黑人女性主义思想的关键概念。第二部分和第三部分重点关注主角Esther“ Mudear” Lovejoy，并分别通过黑人女权主义理论和创伤理论的角度分析了她的“改变”，强调了丑陋的方式表达了平等定义的黑人女性的观念的方式。权力和精神痛苦造成的零件。第四部分认为，黑人女权主义理论和创伤理论不仅是兼容的，而且是辅音的。最终，丑陋的方式将非洲裔美国妇女描绘为复杂的人类主题，并超越了传统的历史，文学和大众形式。