Black Feminism
As a result of America not having movement that acknowledged all of their different forms of oppression, African American women created the Black Feminist movement with the formation of a separate black feminist group know as the National Black Feminist Organization in 1973 (Guy Sheftall, 233).
In an effort to meet the needs of black women who felt they were being racially oppressed in the Women's Movement and sexually oppressed in the Black Liberation Movement (Civil Rights Movement), the Black Feminist Movement was formed in the 1970s
In an effort to meet the needs of black women who felt they were being racially oppressed in the Women's Movement and sexually oppressed in the Black Liberation Movement (Civil Rights Movement), the Black Feminist Movement was formed in the 1970s
Timeline
1950s to 1980s- The Civil Rights Movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law.
1964- Civil Rights Act passed in the United States and it outlawed major forms of discrimination against ethnic, racial, national and religious minorities, and women.
1973- "In 1973 black feminists, primarily located in New York, felt the necessity of forming a seperate black feminist group. This became the National Black Feminist Organization (NBFO)" (Guy-Sheftall, 233).
1973- Founding of Black Women Organized for Action in San Francisco.
1974- The Combahee River Collective, a black feminist and lesbian organization, began meeting in Boston.
1977- As an active organization the NBFO stopped operating nationally.
1978- Varied Voices of Black Women concert tour.
1979- The Combahee River Collective protest of the murders of twelve black women in Boston.
1980- First National Conference on Third World Women and Violence in Washington, DC.
1980- The Combahee River Collective ended their work together.
1990s- Black feminism created a positive effect on many aspects of the Black community
2000s- Still working towards equality and fighting oppression
1964- Civil Rights Act passed in the United States and it outlawed major forms of discrimination against ethnic, racial, national and religious minorities, and women.
1973- "In 1973 black feminists, primarily located in New York, felt the necessity of forming a seperate black feminist group. This became the National Black Feminist Organization (NBFO)" (Guy-Sheftall, 233).
1973- Founding of Black Women Organized for Action in San Francisco.
1974- The Combahee River Collective, a black feminist and lesbian organization, began meeting in Boston.
1977- As an active organization the NBFO stopped operating nationally.
1978- Varied Voices of Black Women concert tour.
1979- The Combahee River Collective protest of the murders of twelve black women in Boston.
1980- First National Conference on Third World Women and Violence in Washington, DC.
1980- The Combahee River Collective ended their work together.
1990s- Black feminism created a positive effect on many aspects of the Black community
2000s- Still working towards equality and fighting oppression
Problems Black Feminists Face
1. "One issue that is of major concern to us and that we have begun to publicly address is racism in the white women's movement. As black feminists we are made constantly and painfully aware of how little effort white women have made to understand and combat their racism" (Guy-Sheftall, 239).
2. "Feminism is, nevertheless, very threatening to the majority of black people because it calls into question some of the most basic assumptions about our existance, i.e., that gender should be a determinant of power relationships" (Guy-Sheftall, 237).
3. Despite the need for the Black Feminist Movement, there were very few black women who were willing to identify themselves as feminists in the early 1970s.
4. The Black Feminist Movement has to find ways to broaden support among Third World and black women in order to educate women on the ideals and goals of the movement and what it stands for.
5. "We have found that is very difficult to organize around black feminist issues, difficult even to announce in certain contexts that we are black feminists" (Guy-Sheftall, 236).
6. Lastly, alliances between the Black Feminist Movement and its parent movements (the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Rights Movement) must be strengthened because they are all working together towards the same end result.
2. "Feminism is, nevertheless, very threatening to the majority of black people because it calls into question some of the most basic assumptions about our existance, i.e., that gender should be a determinant of power relationships" (Guy-Sheftall, 237).
3. Despite the need for the Black Feminist Movement, there were very few black women who were willing to identify themselves as feminists in the early 1970s.
4. The Black Feminist Movement has to find ways to broaden support among Third World and black women in order to educate women on the ideals and goals of the movement and what it stands for.
5. "We have found that is very difficult to organize around black feminist issues, difficult even to announce in certain contexts that we are black feminists" (Guy-Sheftall, 236).
6. Lastly, alliances between the Black Feminist Movement and its parent movements (the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Rights Movement) must be strengthened because they are all working together towards the same end result.
Myths
Myths to divert Black women from our own freedom:
1. The Black woman is already liberated.
2. Racism is the primary (or only) oppression Black women have to confront.
3. Feminism is nothing but man-hating.
4. Women's issues are narrow, apolitical concerns. People of color need to deal with the "larger struggle."
5. Those feminists are nothing but Lesbians.
(http://www.mit.edu/activities/thistle/v9/9.01/6blackf.html)
1. The Black woman is already liberated.
2. Racism is the primary (or only) oppression Black women have to confront.
3. Feminism is nothing but man-hating.
4. Women's issues are narrow, apolitical concerns. People of color need to deal with the "larger struggle."
5. Those feminists are nothing but Lesbians.
(http://www.mit.edu/activities/thistle/v9/9.01/6blackf.html)