African American Foundations in the
Historical Roots of Feminism:
“Essential”
Considerations and Thoughts on an Inclusive Historical Narrative
In reading “essential” texts of
feminism and examining the historical roots presented in these texts, I noticed
that the contribution of African American men and women in assisting in the
birth and the success of the first wave of feminism were largely absent. In a
play on the worlds of Sojourner Truth’s speech “When Women Gets Her Rights Men
Will Be Right” given in 1867, I tell the narrative absent from essential works
of feminism and explain the significance of African American contributions to
the birth and foundation of the first wave of feminism. As you read, think how
this narrative is “essential” in the telling of the roots of feminism as I discuss
what the “essential” narrative of the historical roots of feminism should
consider.
“Essential” Considerations
I cannot help but noticing the vast difference in
realities and struggles of these African American women and white women. I want
us to consider the facts of the historical context of the varied injustices
experienced by these women. And then further consider why the struggle for
equality for African American women and white women were different from the
beginning, and, thus, still struggle with merging into a shared, collective
view and approach to feminism.
I want us to consider why, unanimously, the white women,
as well as the white man, addressed the issues facing only white women. I will
discuss further some writings of white feminist and the absence of
consideration given to African American women.
Harriet
Taylor Mill mentions “sex” and “class” as presenting issues with inequality and
injustice, but does not mention the one factor of inequality from which the
woman’s movement even gained a foundation, platform, and activists – race. If she truly denied “the right of any portion
of the species to decide for another portion,” then why is race and the
further, more extensive injustices suffered by African American women not
included in this platform? (Freedman 69)
John
Stuart Mill made statements regarding slavery that I strongly disagree with
when he equated the bondage of a woman in marriage to the enslavement of a
slave. Maybe these statements were made from the experience of slavery
occurring across an ocean due to the fact that they were located in England. I
was thoroughly disgusted at the equation of white women’s plight to that of a
slave. Speaking of women he said, “They are so far in a position different from
all other subject classes, that their masters require something more from them
than actual service” (Freedman 76). I can agree that married women, as a whole,
are subjected to servicing their husbands on many levels.
I want us to consider that,
no matter what the instance of servicing involves, none degrades the spirit and
scars the soul as the servicing African American women had to give to their
white male masters. I want us to consider the literal and figurative rape
African American women endured long after slavery was abolished. I also want us
to consider the fact that African American women remained in an unequal burden of
servicing the households of white women, as well as their own. Equality among
working class men and women was not the primary issue for African American
women bearing the burden of caring for their husband and household, as well as,
the white women’s husband and household, servicing two men – husband and the
white family for whom she worked.
Given these considerations, I
was further irritated with Mill’s assertion that, “I am far from pretending
that wives are in general no better treated than slaves; but no slave is a
slave to the same lengths, and in so full a sense of the word, as a wife is”
(Freedman 79). I beg to differ with this assumption. African American woman
bore a double enslavement, a multiplied injustice – that of her husband, as
well as the white man. African American women nursed their own babies, and the
master’s babies; they were not just at the mercy of their master, but all white
men – who may force themselves sexually, beat them physically, or degrade them
emotionally and mentally. While African American women bore abuse and injustice
from multiple white males, white women’s issues with marriage generally sought
freedom from one master – their husband. In knowing this, I want us to consider
why the struggle of equality among the sexes, always and forever must include
the inequality and injustice incurred by race.
I want us
to consider that Susan B Anthony’s defense based on the 14th
Amendment in 1873 would have never been a possible defense in seeking equality
for women if African American males and females had ever given up hope of
freedom, equality, and justice for all of humanity. Some historical context to
consider that led to the creation and enactment of the 14th
amendment, as well as, a precedent for women to be included in voting rights,
includes the Dred Scott Case and the passage of the 13th, 14th,
and 15th amendments to the Constitution. Dred Scott sued the courts
for his freedom beginning in 1847 based on the Missouri Compromise of 1820
declaring certain states as free from the institution of slavery. In 1857, the
Supreme Court ruled that African Americans, slave or free, could not be
citizens of the United States, and thus did not have the right to sue the
court. This made the 13th, 14th, and 15th
amendments necessary to ensure freedom, justice, and equality for African
Americans. The 13th amendment abolished slavery, except for
prisoners in 1865. The 14th amendment granted citizenship to African
Americans in 1868. The 15th amendment gave African American men the
right to vote in 1870. All of these victories in obtaining equality, freedom,
and justice for African Americans occurred before Anthony addressed the court
in her defense with the 14th amendment as justification for women’s
right to vote. I want us to deeply consider the fact that the women’s movement
and the roots of feminism begin with the fight of equality and justice for
African Americans, in which African American men and women had significant
contributions. I want us to consider that it is the spirit and efforts of
African American’s seeking equality, freedom, and justice that gave the women’s
movement a foundation on which to stand and fight. I want us to consider these
roots.
Thoughts on An Inclusive Historical Narrative of Feminism
If I
were asked to create a course on ‘the roots of feminism,’ I would begin with
the historical context that made the feminist movements necessary. From the
perspective of my roots as a biracial 32 yr old female, the need for women’s
liberation began with the creation of America’s capitalistic, imperialistic,
paternalistic roots justified with Christianity. Since Christianity is
historically an oppressive religion that has been used as justification for the
oppression of women all over the world, this could be part of the historical
context making liberation of women and oppressed people necessary throughout
the world. I do believe that it is important to note, for the sake of
historical context, that the most ancient culture from which humanity began honored
women in their society. The Ancient
Egyptians practiced “the earliest know religion of humankind,” in which, “the
role of the female was equally as significant as that of the male. Unlike in
the Judeo-Christian myth of Adam and Eve, the female principle was a redeeming
and positive factor. All male deities had female counterparts of equal
importance.” (Monges 561) Women in Ancient Kemet (Egypt) owned property and
were part of royalty. I feel this is important to note because women, in the
beginning of humankinds existence, were equal to the male and not subjected to
the oppression that became justified with the practice of later developed
religions such as Christianity.
In
reading through the introductions of
Miriam Schneir’s Feminism:
Essential Historical Writings, Beverly Guy Sheftall’s Words: An Anthology of African American Feminist Thought, and
Estelle Freedman’s The Essential Feminist
Reader, I see that the historical context for studying the roots of
feminism begins at a point in time relevant to the white ruling majority’s
perception and experience. The first wave of feminism is historically recognized
as beginning with the first woman’s rights convention in America. A truthful
narrative of this history would include the facts that 1) the first women’s
rights convention would have never occurred if white women had not experienced
the exclusion from the World’s Anti Slavery Convention in 1840 and 2) the
Worlds Anti-Slavery Convention would never have come to fruition if African
Americans did not courageously answer the cry for freedom within their souls to
break the oppressive chains of slavery during the abolitionist movement.
When
studying the roots of feminism, I do feel that it is an inadequate endeavor to
begin with the white majority perspective. Unfortunately, white women have
dominated the historical writings of feminism. Schneir admits in her
introduction that “the nationality of the editor (American) has influenced the
contents, since works written in English by Americans are most available and
best known to me.” (Schneir xv) Thus, finding a starting point for the
historical context of feminism with examining the development of justification
for the oppression of women is important for me as a student and a social
justice activist.
It is important
to note as we read “essential” feminist texts completed by white women, that
the historical context from which they are compiled and written is largely
exclusively representative of the white woman voice and historical narrative. Beverly
Guy-Sheftall’s work, Words of Fire: An
Anthology of African American Feminist Thought does an excellet job of allowing the voices
of minority women to have a place at the table. Guy-Sheftall focuses on
including African American works not already in print extensively and even
includes a list of the works that she has omitted that are still very relevant
to the historical roots of the “essential” narrative of feminism.
Discussion Question(s)
·
What do
you consider “essential” in telling the narrative of the historical roots of
feminism? Do you feel that current “essential” texts are provide a historical
narrative inclusive of contributions beyond white feminists?
·
What
historical ideologies affected the inclusion of the African American feminist
narrative in the historical roots of feminism?
Bibliography
Freedman, Estelle B. The Essential Feminist Reader.
New York: Modern Library, 2007.
Guy-Sheftall, Beverly. Words of Fire: An Anthology
of African American Feminist Thought. New York: The New Press, 1995.
Monges, Miriam Ma'At-Ka-Re. "Reflections on the
Role of Remale Dieties and Queens in Ancient Kemet." Journal of Black
Studies 23.4 (1993): 561-570.
Schneir, Miriam. Feminism: The Essential
Historical Writings. New York: Vintage Books, 1994.
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