This heuristic inquiry into the lived experience of African American females was conducted in 2 parts, an heuristic self-search inquiry and a traditional heuristic inquiry. Nine African American women were interviewed twice over a 5-month period for the study. Relying on intuitive prompting, the heuristic self-search inquiry consisted of an immersion experience of the primary researcher into the African American enslavement experience through imaginative interaction with slave narratives. That process yielded imaginative expressions of the 4 iconic African American stereotypes (Mammy Speaks, Jezebel Speaks, Sapphire Speaks, and Strong Black Woman Speaks), as well as deeply felt shifts in the tacit dimension of the researcher. Thematic content analysis of the individual depictions of the 9 participants yielded 9 themes: working harder, attractiveness, code of silence, invisibility/diminishment, stereotype awareness, generational transmission, coping styles, depth of internalization, and role models. Methodological issues, critical assessment of findings, implications for future research, and clinical application of finds are discussed.
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