On the stage, was one of the few places where Black women had privilege over Black men. They had more (creative) freedom when performing; however, this was another way of pitting Black women and men against each other. Singers, like Bessie Smith, Mamie Smith, and Ma Rainey, trailblazed a path for other Black women in the music industry. Singers like Alicia Keys, Jazmine Sullivan, and Mariah Carey stand on the shoulders of the women before them. Bessie, Mamie, and Ma have transferred their power to other artists through their music and their impact. The Blues and Black women in music would not be the same without them.