Black Feminism Analysis Essay

Student's Name
Professor's Name
Subject
03 05 2021
Black Feminism
Feminism is usually theorized in women's representation in the political, social, and economic spheres. Those holding feminists' interests advocate for gender equality and upholding social structures that favor affirmative action for women in political and economic spaces. When referring to black feminism, it is like a double-edged sword that advocates for women's equal representation in society and fighting against gendered-racial discrimination and stereotype. Historically, black women have had to bear the brunt of all social ills meted against them. In addition to the generalized racial discrimination towards Black Americans, they have contended with gender discrimination, inequality, and stereotyping. Black women have been labeled "angry," "violent," and all the derogatory terms, such that whenever they have an encounter with the law, most often they will be incarcerated as compared to their white female counterparts.
Politics and representation immensely influence feminism's existence. Similarly, representation is central to defining black feminism in the social space. On one side, it is a political process operative term that strives to extend women's legitimacy and visibility as political subjects. On the other hand, it is a language's normative function considered to divulge or misrepresent what is perceived as truthful regarding women's category. There have been divergent opinions around feminism, mostly emanating from within feminist discussions, with some quotas passionately challenging the connection between politics and feminist theory. The subject of women per se is no longer construed in abiding and stable provisions. Some scholars interrogate the suitability of "subject" as the standard term for representation or rather a liberation. Still, there is minimal consensus on what comprises or is supposed to institute the category of women. It is a dicey scenario since linguistic and political "representation" domains clearly outline "subjects" formation standards, citing that representation is accorded solely to what can be accredited as a subject.
Simply put, one must first qualify to be a subject before allowed representation. As highlighted in Gender Trouble, "the question of the subject is crucial for politics" (Butler, 2). In her opinion, Butler hints at an honest debate whether the patriarchal political system is ready for feminist politics.
As observed above, the red tapes surrounding the women category subject classification are more confusing than helpful. It makes it harder for women to have equal representation in society and even worse for black women. Over the years, black feminism has been growing and engraving its tentacles into the social and political issues affecting them. Their recent political involvement has been the fight against sexual, racial, class, heterosexual, and social and political oppression. Aware that a blend of these oppressions impacts their lives, the community has been steadfast in advocating for equality, equity, social justice, and an end to all forms of discrimination and bias. They have taken it upon themselves to use Black feminism as the rational political movement to help them combat the multiple repressions faced by all Black women.
Black feminism roots back to the historically African American women's persistent liberation and survival struggles against the white oppressors and slave masters. Due to a negative association to the predominantly white male American political system, the situation has ensured that Black women are condemned into the oppressed sexual and racial abyss. In Reflections on the Black Woman's Role in the Community of Slaves, Angela Davis opines that Black women have historically opposed the penetration of repressive white male rule into their communities both in powerful and gentle ways. She points out the various Black women activists who have participated in the political struggles despite the double burden they held-being female and black. They included Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells Barnett, Sojourner Truth, Mary Church Terrell, Frances E. W. Harper, and many more undocumented activists.
Throughout American history, Black feminism has been evolving in equal measure as the country's political space. In the 1960s and 70s, Black liberation movements like Civil Rights, Black Panthers, Black Nationalism Black women participated with the same vigor as their male counterparts. For their case, their quest was much more than admonishing racial discrimination, but also gender discrimination, specifically to the Black women who were most affected. The Black activists' experience combined with the moderate white male left politicians stirred a debate and the need to formulate anti-sexist and anti-racial politics that put them at the same level as white women and Black and white men.
Over time, Black feminism has been advanced by the Black women's political consciousness. Black women have been decrying injustices propagated by the gove...