Black Matriarchy?

"In certain human societies, a child's identity is determined through the line of the Mother [...] 'In essence, the Negro community has been forced into a matriarchal structure [...]'" (Spillers 5).

Are black women relied upon solely for their matriarchal instincts and abilities? Do others automatically assume them to have a motherly and educational disposition? This seems to be the case for the situation in which Lilith finds her self in the society of the Oankali. As compared to other humans living with the Oankali, for example Fukumoto or the human doctor, who are sought out to do work other than with children, Lilith seems to be immediately regarded as a tool to help, guide, and teach children. Once Lilith passes the apparent teaching and communication test with Sharad, she is placed with Nikanj to teach it her culture and language and to help it through his maturation. Lilith describes to situation: "This was a little like having Sharad with her again. But Nikanj was much more demanding - more like an adult in its persistence. No doubt she and Sharad had been given their time together so that the Oankali could see how she behaved with a foreign child of her own species - a child she had to share quarters with and teach" (Butler 59). Although there does seem to be an easier option for the method of Lilith's learning of the Oankali language, she is instead placed with Nikanj to teach it her language and in return learn its. As opposed to just allowing Lilith to simply learn the language and customs quickly and directly in order that she could get to work sooner, she must pay for her new knowledge by sharing her old knowledge with Nikanj. The Oankali use her maternal instincts to help their young in it's education and eventual maturing process. Later, it is clear that Nikanj views her as a mother figure, as well, through its choice to ask her to be with it through the long process of maturation it will soon be going through. Evidently, Lilith is once again seen as a reliable mother figure. It seems that Lilith too, before the Earth's destruction, really did not see herself as much more than a mother figure. When discussing her role in her husband and child's lives, Lilith describes herself as existing and working only for her family. When asked by the Oankali "what work had she done" while on Earth, Lilith mentally responds, "none. Her son and her husband had been her work for a few brief years. After the auto accident that killed them, she had gone back to college, there to decide what else she might do with her life" (Butler 6). She admittedly only goes to get an education and to work after her husband and son are out of her life and there is no one to mother anymore. It is apparent that Lilith is character in Dawn is predominately regarded as a motherly tool for education and comfort. Is this instinct and, therefore, duty of Lilith's more than just a central trait of her character? Could it be reflective of her race, sex or a combination? The ideas Spillers bring about regarding black matriarchy lead me to believe the latter.