...Black Feminism Michelle Smith African American History Winter Quarter 2010 Purdue University Instructor: Professor Wilkens Introduction When the Black Feminist movement was developed, it was a revolution for black women. It gave them power, liberation, and a voice to overcome the emasculating efforts of white male power (Harrold, Hine, and Hine, 2009). When I first began this research, I discovered that Black Feminism is too broad of a topic to elaborate on as a whole. This paper defines the term “Black Feminism. It will explore two published articles that report on the theory and practice of how black feminism is making waves and what role of education in the development of the Black Feminist Thought from 1860 to 1920. This paper will examine when the National Black Feminist Organization was founded and lastly, how two outstanding women who made an impact in the Black Feminist Movement. According to Encyclo (n.d.) online encyclopedia the definition of black feminism is “A strand of feminist thought which highlights the multiple disadvantages of gender, class and race that shape the experiences of nonwhite women. Black feminists reject the idea of a single unified gender oppression that is experienced evenly by all women, and argue that early feminist analysis reflected the specific concerns of white, middle-class women.” In other words, black feminist argue that the liberation of black women entails freedom for all people since it would require the end of...
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...discipline and punishment to lay out his thoughts on how the elite in society dominate and control the society. Foucault is an anarchist and dislike societal rules. He thought these rules affected on the human spirit. Foucault’s theories mentioned the nature of power and its functions. It means power controls knowledge and how it is used as a form of social control. He analyzed the word of power is easy to cause some misunderstandings with a mode of subjugation, violence or form of the rule. In his theory, he does not agree to use a general system of domination produced by other groups which affected the society. In his discussions on power and dissertation, they have influenced many theorists. Those theorists believe that Foucault’s analysis of power structures could help the strove against inequality. In Foucault’s society should not be constantly engendering states of power and use the power to get the sovereignty or hegemonies. Also, power is not an institution and structure; nor a certain strength we are endowed with. Therefore, we should not use power to dominate others disadvantaged minority. People should...
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...Black feminism is a school of feminism that was founded on the belief that factors such as racism, sexism, and class discrimination are all interwoven factors that lead to oppression, as these factors cannot be separated, but must be tackled together as a unit. Black feminists strive to liberate black women from oppression as they believe this will lead to freedom for all, as factors such as racism, sexism and class oppression will then be eliminated, freeing all people from the boundaries and constraints that oppression creates. This theory of feminism emerged as black women felt that they were subject to a harsher form of oppression than white women. This type of feminist movement was a response to the Feminist Movement, and the Black Liberation movement that was occurring at the time. They believed that the Feminist Movement solely helped white, middle-class women, and that it failed to focus on all women, as there were women — like the black women— who were being oppressed not only by gender, but also by race, and class. They too felt that the Black Liberation Movement focused only on the struggles of black men, and that they were sexually oppressed by this movement. They believed that both of these movements failed to recognized black women, as they were an invisible group. It is believed by the black feminists that they too, like the white feminists, struggle with issues concerning gender, but what differentiates them is that they are faced with being unequal on the basis...
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...Bone Black by Bell Hooks The book Bone Black, which was written by Bell Hooks primarily gives a soft and vivid look in the author’s own childhood experience. The author started off the book by explaining about a certain quilt that her mother entrusted to her. At first, she thought that such quilt was quite special because of course it was her mother who personally gave it to her and that her mother never gave if first to her other sisters. Later on, the author went on describing how the siblings in their family never had a clue that they were not rich until the later part of their lives and during the times that are already growing. They primarily liked certain dolls that they used to play with and the food that they usually eat. All of them never dared to wonder why they did not possess various things that their white neighbors used to have. The sisters frequently complain because when they are going to school they need to walk and that the white kids in their neighborhood are riding on the school bus. All of these experiences, the author though that her family had a pretty normal and simple family (NNDB). In the following chapters of her book, Bone Black, Bell Hooks lengthily discussed how they were raised by their parents to fear the white people in their community. The siblings in their family, whether young or old were always taught that black individuals like them who highly resembled white people would have a life better in the world. The author, through her childhood...
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...focuses on how feminism ignores black women’s ethnicity and how antiracist campaigns ignore black women’s gender. This is where the term ‘intersectionality’ arose from. Intersectionality is used to give people experiencing more than one form of oppression the opportunity to identify as both minorities at once instead of each one separately. For example instead of identifying as black and gay and a woman a person is able to identify as a black gay woman. This is intersectionality. As previously mentioned, the main topic of Crenshaw’s article is society’s ignorance of women of colour; both campaigns that could be aimed...
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... Throughout the course of history, women have faced opposition and lack of equality on a myriad of levels. Women have been forced to stay in the home, forbidden from voting affairs, and prevented from owning property. Men denied women many fundamental rights because they did not see them as equal members of society. Now, thanks to the efforts of the women of the First Wave of Feminism, women have the right to vote. Suffrage, although a huge step for women’s rights, is still only the beginning of the journey. The women of this new suffragist era knew that they had more to offer to society; thus began the struggle of exercising their right to vote, which is known as the Second Wave of Feminism. There were many challenges and obstacles that women had to overcome that defined the Second Wave. One of the largest challenges of all had to be the fact that after suffrage was granted, support dwindled quite a bit. Along with decreased numbers, the active supporters were divided on the matters of the best way to improve the quality of life for women. Many people were content because the majority of media, magazines and newspapers made it seem as though women’s equality had been achieved, but behind the scenes women were still boxed in when it came to the...
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...Cracking the Audre Lorde Code “I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood” - Audre Lorde. Audre Lorde was a poet, lover, mother, warrior, and also fiercely passionate as her works spoke her deepest convictions. Audre Lorde’s life influenced her literature through her relationship with her mother, education, depression, and experiences through racial injustice to show that you can overcome anything by turning the negative into something positive. Audre Lorde’s relationship with her mother influenced her works of literature. In Hanging Fire, the mother is very distant from her daughter. “and momma’s in the bedroom with her door closed” (Lorde 719). The fourteen year old girl is seeking advice from her mother about her problems, but she isn’t becoming available for her to talk to her. Audre and her mother were in a similar relationship “Lorde’s mother in particular was emotionally distant….” (Pope 662). Audre wasn’t at all close to her mother because her mother was going through a struggle. Audre’s relationship with her mother and her education influenced her literary works. Audre’s experiences in her education influenced her works of literature. Lorde became an excellent student due to the absentness of her parents “Her academic success led to admission to Hunter High School….” (Pope 662). Hunter High School in the late 1940s was known...
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...Madeline Steffey Intersectionality with Kimberle Crenshaw and Gloria Anzaldua Intersectionality can be described as the study of the intersection of different forms of discrimination experienced by individuals who are members of multiple minority groups. For example, a Hispanic woman faces barriers in society not only because she is Hispanic, but also because she is a woman and one could not fully understand her oppression without taking both of these aspects into consideration. Kimberly Crenshaw and Gloria Anzaldua both provide accounts of intersectionality and utilize different approaches in their explanations. I will begin by analyzing their approaches separately, then I will explain how Crenshaw might object to Anzaldua’s account because it does not contain adequate factual evidence or realistic solutions. As a response from Anzaldua to Crenshaw’s objections, I will assert that Anzaldua effectively used personal and cultural experiences to reflect on intersectionality. Throughout her life, Anzaldua felt like she lived within borders. That in order to live and survive, she had to cross borders continuously. This is because multiple aspects of her life typically result in societal discrimination. She is unique in that she is a minority in several ways such as being a mix of Mexican and Anglo-Saxon, as well as being a lesbian. These aspects overlap and intertwine, which results in intersectionality. When crossing borders, one has to adapt to the different norms that are...
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...Hana Davis PHIL 1010 4/26/2012 Commonplace Book XII-Man Child For parents, regardless of sexual identity and preference raising children has its obstacles. There are many situations/circumstances parents have to deal with regarding raising children. In the essay Man Child: A Black Lesbian Feminist Response, Audre Lorde gives her point of view regarding raising her children-specifically her young male son Jonathan. This essay reveals that despite the obstacles of raising children, regardless of what type of relationship couples are in, most parents want to raise children who possess the balance of being caring, independent and strong. Our daughters have us, for measure or rebellion, or outline or dream; but the sons of lesbians have to make their own definitions of self as men. Heterosexual couples aren’t the only couples who worry about the development of their children. In the essay Man Child: A Black Lesbian Feminist Response, Audre Lorde, a black writer, lesbian, and feminist describes the obstacles of raising her two children. She specifically explores the obstacles of raising her fourteen year old son Jonathan. Lorde realizes that because she is a woman and in a lesbian relationship, her daughter has a guide/outline of how to be a woman but her son will have to define who he is as a man. She also realizes that in being a lesbian she can teach her son survival instincts and acceptance, but she cannot layout what he needs to be a man. Women are taught at a young age...
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...Bailey Gerard-Custodio Ms. Dane ENGL 2593 November 26,2013 Essay 2: Patricia Hill Collin’s Thoughts on Shadow Tag Patricia Hill Collin’s main argument in, The Sexual Politics of Black Womanhood, is that race controls the type of objectification a woman will face. Meaning, race controls the way society perceives a woman. In the novel, Shadow Tag, Louise Erdrich tells a chilly story of a marriage controlled by possession. A woman is shown objectification through her cultural origin and background. Throughout the novel, Gil wished to possess Irene. His possession over Irene’s body was obtained through his depictions of her in his artwork. The idea that an object is something you can obtain and possess would relate the novel by Louise Erdrich to the argument of Patricia Hill Collins. Gil’s obsession over his wife’s body also created a form of domination that utilized a form of oppression. Patricia Hill Collins writes, “Sexuality becomes a domain of restriction and repression when this energy is tied to the larger system of race, class, and gender oppression.” Gil controlled Irene’s image and sexuality through a form oppression that accompanied her race, class, and gender because he found that it exemplified his talent as an artist. “He painted Indians when he painted his wife because he couldn’t help it—the ferocity between them, the need. Her blood ancestors came out in Gil’s painting as he worked.” Gil painted Irene in the way he wanted people to perceive her. He used her ...
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...In order to understand the black feminist movement my group and I had to read three major readings about black feminism. The readings consisted of “A Black Feminist Statement,” “The Matrix of Domination,” and “Representing Whiteness in the Black Imagination.” These three readings helped us shape our presentation to our class mates on the subject of black feminism. A Black Feminist Statement, Combahee River Collective In this reading, it is explained that black women have been meeting for centuries trying to get equality and rights. It is known that in 1974, black women began meeting in hopes of defending and clarifying there politics. These women were up against the oppression of men and the color of their skin and many were seeking for change. Their fight against oppression included race, sex, hetero-sexism, and class. “…Black feminism we would like to affirm that we find our Afro-American women's continuous life-and-death struggle for survival and liberation” (Combahee River Collective). These women felt as if it was an obligation to fight for their rights and took it as a matter of life or death situation. Many powerful women arose from the black feminist movement such as: Harriet Tubman, Frances E.W Harper, Ida B. Wells Barnett, Sojourner Truth and Mary Church Terrell. These women were major leaders and collaborators in the black feminist movement. In 1973 The National Black Feminist Organization (NBFO) was created (Combahee River Collective). This organization was...
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...Feminism comes from a white, upper middle-class female perspective and is known for their ideology of eliminating and attacking men. However, black women have a different set of issues than white women. The struggles of black women are going to be different, causing them to want to be equals to men and not want to eliminate or attack men. It is clear that Their Eyes Were Watching God is a womanist novel. Their Eyes Were Watching God does not represent traditional feminist ideology. Throughout the years, people have only focused on feminism and its ideologies, and ignored womanist ideologies and its impact on society. Feminism can be described as a belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities, to the point at which women can completely exclude men and not rely on them at all. Feminism comes from a white female perspective and ignores the challenges that most African American women have to deal with. (McDowell, 153) Patricia Hill Collins gives an African American woman’s view on feminism and womanism. She goes on to say: “Again, Walker's definition provides guidance where...
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...Black feminism exists because women of the African American community are subject to even more oppression than Caucasian women. They are heavily targeted in society due to their race and sex. This target comes with many stereotypes, which Black feminism tries to get rid of. In the reading The Evolution of Feminist Consciousness Among African American Women by Beverly Guy-Sheftall it says that "An analysis of the feminist activism of black women also suggests the necessity of reconceptualizing women's issues to include poverty, racism, imperialism, lynching, welfare, economic exploitation, sterilization abuse, decent housing, and a host of other concerns that generations of black women foregrounded". These characteristics are what make Black...
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...They explained that previous schools of thought in feminism are unable to fully acknowledge the issues faced by women of color in particular because they are unable to view them as being experienced simultaneously rather than occurring separately (Combahee, 249) because, as white women, they do not experience these intersections of identity. In Crenshaw’s article “Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex” she outlines a particular occurrence with General Motors wherein which several black female workers were laid off and they argued against the discrimination that led to the termination of their jobs. General Motors cited that their layoff policy was based on seniority, with those who have worked for the company the longest having a greater chance of keeping their job. This explanation was unsatisfactory due to the fact that all Black women hired after 1970 had lost their jobs but no Black women had been hired before 1964, leaving them with a lack of seniority within the company. Before 1964, both Black men and white women had been hired by General Motors and because of this the case was subsequently dismissed on both claims of race discrimination and gender discrimination. But in this case “the intersectionality of multiple oppressions is greater than the sum of...
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...characterized US history, the Feminist Movement has had a profound impact on American culture and politics (Hooks 2-3, 15). Perhaps the most compelling element of the Feminist Movement is the emergence of Black Feminism, which aimed to reshape the structure and direction of the movement (Burrell 9-10). Although the Black Feminist Movement reached its peak in the 1960’s and 70’s (Burrell 10), many attempts had been made previously by African American women to highlight the persistent oppression faced by their counterparts (Simien 2). Most notorious are the words of activists Sojourner Truth during the Civil War; as she repeated “Ain’t I a woman”, she sought to emphasize the racism, as well...
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