Black Feminism BY TIERNEY AND JEMMA What is
Black Feminism BY TIERNEY AND JEMMA
What is Black Feminism? Black Feminism is a type of feminism that focuses on the idea that sexism and racism are bound together, this is called intersectionality. The experience of being a black woman cannot be understood by simply being black or a female – while these two identities should be considered independently, they should also be understood that each concept compound upon and reinforce each other. The Nation Black Feminism Movement was created in 1973 due to the inadequate coverage of racism toward black women by the mainstream feminist movement. From this, the tag 'white feminism' has been created to criticize those who do not acknowledge women of colour. Not to mention, the Civil Rights Movement excluded women from leadership positions. Throughout time, black feminism has formed groups that address the role of black women in black nationalism, gay liberation and second-wave feminism. Black Feminism was brought into the mainstream after the Anita Hill controversy, Hill accused her supervisor of sexual harassment,
Historical Context 19 th century - black feminism has been around since slavery. Some women who were exhibiting for major change were Ida B Wells who was a politically driven activist and Zora Neale Hurston who was a writer f African American culture. Zora contributed a strong female lead when she released a book called ‘their eyes were watching god’ which altered peoples view on black women at the time Post-slavery 1920 s - In the post slavery period, black female intellectuals including Sojourner Truth, Anna Julia Cooper, Ida B. Wells, Mary Church Terrell, and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, proposed "some of the most important questions of race, gender, and the work of Reconstruction in the nineteenth century", which was a very bold move for a black woman at the time. They carried on with unheard of intellectual public lectures, fight for suffrages and aiding those in need of help following reconstruction. 1920 – 1960 s – during this time black female activists joined the Communist party or focused on union activism. Although they did not all identify as feminists, their theorizing included important works that are the foundation for theories of intersectionality which integrating race, gender, and class. In 1940. Ester V Cooper wrote a thesis called ‘the negro women in domestic work in relation to trade unionism’. Black women were starting to campaign for more rights- Ester and Rosa Parks tried to help Recy Taylor who in 1944 was victim of a gang rape so they tried to bring justice. 1960 -1970 s - (civil right movement) the civil rights movement mostly focused on the oppression (prolonged cruel and unjustified treatment) of black men, but many black women faced severe sexism within civil rights groups such as the ’Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee’. Within the movement, men dominated the powerful positions. Black feminists did not want the movement to be the struggle for black men's rights; they wanted black women's rights to be incorporated too. Black women felt they needed to have their own movement because the complaints of white feminists differed from their own and favored white women.
Contemporary Context The 21 st century has brought a shift in thinking away from "traditional" feminism. ’Third-wave feminism’ claimed the need for more intersectionality in feminist activism and the inclusion of black and other ethnic minority women. Additionally, the advancement of technology increases the development of a new digital feminism. This online activism involved the use of many different social media like "Facebook, twitter, Instagram, You. Tube, Tumblr, to discuss gender equality and social justice. In 2010 s there was a revitalization of black feminism. As more influential figures began to identify themselves as feminist, social media saw a rise in young black feminists willing to bring racist and sexist situations to light. Black feminists on social media showed support for the natural hair movement using the hashtags #melanin and #blackgirlmagic. Black feminists also voiced the importance of increasing "representation" of black women in television and movies. 2014 study showed that top 100 movies nearly ¾ of them were white and only 17 of those featured non-white or co-lead actors.
Figures within Black Feminism Angela Davis An American political activist, academic and author. She has written several books regarding black feminism as well as presenting speeches covering the issue of the 'white washing' of feminism. Despite her political contribution in the US, she holds speeches internationally, reaching out to many parts of the world. Bell Hooks (Gloria Jean Watkins) An American author, professor, feminist and social activist. Her contribution to balck feminism generally resides in her books but she also partakes in documentaries as well as public lectures. She focuses her writing around the intersectionality of race, capitalism and gander. She Kimberle Williams Crenshaw An American lawyer, Civil Rights advocate and a scholar of the Critical Race Theory (intersectionality), best known for her introduction and development of intersectionality. She founded the Columbia Law School's Center for intersectionality, Social Policy Studies and the African American Policy Forum. These cover several issues regarding oppressions, discrimination and gender issues. Patricia Hill Collins An academic specialist in race, class and gender. She is the former head of Department of African-American Studies at the University and Cincinnati and past president of the American Sociology Association, being the first female African-American in her position. Her book 'Black Feminist Thought' was released in 1990.
Celebrity figures within Black Feminism Beyonce A celebrity known for her strong feminist beliefs displayed through her contribution the several movements such as 'Black Lives Matter'. Her visual album Lemonade draws attention to Black Feminism by casting black women and including symbolic imagery of black women during the slave trade era. As the director and star throughout the album, she reinforces the power of black women. Kerry Washington Part of the Beyond Beautiful roundtable, here she discussed with other celebrities the issue of sexism of Hollywood toward all women but particularly sexism toward women of colour. She also publicly speaks out about intersectional feminism and the need for greater diversity in entertainment.
Formation Beyonce uses powerful imagery to praise black women's beauty - Blue Ivy's afro. She uses the scene of the submerging police car with her on top to symbolize the role of black women, historically the forefront and backbone of political movement. The strengths and resilience to the point that they would lay lives down for black sons, brothers and husbands. She first says ‘she slay; but then goes on to add ‘we all slay’ so she’s unifying black women. Politically, "Formation" is a black woman's call to arms. It's a moving assembly of ethnically authentic parts. Formation provides both provocation (action or speech to make someone angry) and pleasure; inherently political and a deeply personal look at the black and queer bodies who have most often born the brunt of our politics. All shapes and shades of black bodies are signaled here and move
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