Black Womanism 1
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Welcome to Sociology Level 1, Lesson 1: Black Womanism 1
In this lesson, you will learn about:
The ideology of Black Womanism
The differences between feminism, intersectional feminism and womanism
The dual oppression of racism and sexism
The white patriarchal society of today
The Black queer and trans communities under Womanism
The pioneers of Black Womanism
Objectives
By the end of this lesson you will understand:
The core aims of Black Womanism
How and why it differs from feminism
How racism and sexism combine to negatively impact the lives of Black women
Who is affected by patriarchy
Black Womanism, also referred to as Africana Womanism, is an ideology and movement based upon the specific experiences of Black women. It is grounded in Black culture and Afrocentricity, examining and analysing the world from an African-centred perspective.
Black Womanism holds the view that a woman’s femininity cannot be separated from her culture. As such, a woman’s Blackness is the culture through which her femininity is born. Being Black is considered the fundamental component to Black Womanism, and equal emphasis is placed on combating both racism and sexism - an approach that differs from feminism.
The necessity of Black Womanism cannot be understated as Black women share an experience no other group of people face. The experiences of systemic racism and misogyny leads to an oppression that differs from anything anyone else has to endure.
The patriarchal structure of society serves white men at the expense of women and racialised men, granting them more political, social and human rights. Black women bear the brunt of the expense more than other groups of women, encountering the highest levels of sexism due to white supremacy. This sexism comes not just from the white society at large, but can also come from those within the community who have internalised ideas about sex and gender from the wider white society.
Black Womanism allows Black women to self-define both their being and their struggle, opposing patriarchal white supremacy in all its forms. It rejects feminism, as both historically and concurrently, white feminists have been just as racist as the white men that have opposed them. It also differs from the intersectional feminist movement, which represents a shared struggle between all women based on sex and gender. Instead, Black Womanism represents a shared struggle based on Blackness, sex and gender.
Black Womanism also includes the struggles of the Black queer and trans communities. This again differs from mainstream feminism, which often is only concerned with addressing the injustices of straight white women. However, white women throughout history have clung onto their whiteness in order to acquire privilege over both Black women and Black men.
The specific struggles of Black queer and Black trans people are not swept under the all-encompassing banner of Black Womanism. Instead, they are rooted in the Blackness of Womanism, as Eurocentric ideas about gender and sexuality are dismantled and replaced with Afrocentric notions.
Although only recently defined as a movement, Black Womanism has been practiced for centuries, and perhaps longer.
Some of the pioneers of what would now be considered Black Womanism include:
Harriet Tubman, who freed hundreds of captive Africans across the Southern United States
Sojourner Truth, a legendary abolitionist who lived in the United States and addressed the intersections of racism and sexism with her famous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech
Ida B. Wells, an amazing Black activist and pioneering writer
Angela Davis, an honorary member of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defence and brilliant scholar
Assata Shakur, a revolutionary and freedom fighter
Claudia Jones, a Black radical activist
Clenora Hudson-Weems, a scholar who coined the term “Africana Womanism”
Sister Souljah, an activist, writer and recording artist.