AIN't I A WOMAN? AIN'T I A WOMAN? AIN'T I A WOMAN? AIN'T I A WOMAN? AIN'T I A WOMAN? AIN'T I A WOMAN? AIN'T I A WOMAN? AIN'T I A WOMAN?
SOJOURNER TRUTH
“Ain’t I a Woman?” Delivered at the 1851 Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio
"Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that ‘twixt the Negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what’s all this here talking about? That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mudpuddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man – when I could get it – and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman? Then they talk about this thing in the head; what’s this they call it? [member of audience whispers, “intellect”] That’s it, honey. What’s that got to do with women’s rights or Negroes’ rights? If my cup won’t hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn’t you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full? Then that little man in black there, he says women can’t have as much rights as men, ‘cause Christ wasn’t a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him. If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it. The men better let them. Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain’t got nothing more to say"
"ain't I a woman" Black women and Feminism by bell hooks "ain't I a woman" black women and feminism" (1981) is a book written by the author, activist, and scholar bell hooks. It offers a critical examination of how Black women are and have been historically oppressed by both racism and sexism. Throughout the entirety of the book, hooks address the intersection of race and gender and the synergy in the oppression of Black women, making it a pivotal text in Black Feminist studies. My Favorite Quotation
"Sexism was an integral part of the social and political order white colonizers brought with them from their European homelands, and it was to have a grave impact on the fate of enslaved Black Women” (hooks, pg 15)
My Comment
I have been in school for 16 years of my life, and have read plenty of amazing texts written by great people, But ain't i a woman has been the most influential book i have read to date. I spent two weeks preparing to present this text to my peers and they were two weeks full of emotion and passion. In Spanish, it is common to hear folks say "Soy estudiante de la escuela de la vida" or proclaiming themselves as a student in the school of life. This book is now essential to my journey navigating the school of life. I admire and respect the late bell hooks immensely and thank her for pushing me to question how I love, educate, and critique myself and the world around me. Rest in power bell hooks.
Chapter One: Sexism and the Black Female Slave Experience Core Theme: Sexism amplified the mental torment and physical abuse Black Women experienced during slavery. As stated by hooks, Sexism was an essential aspect of European society and colonizers utilized it as a tactic to harm enslaved people (pg. 15) Christianity allowed colonizers to justify their hatred of all women and to label Black enslaved women as sexual beings, embodiment of evil temptation (pg. 32). This characterization subjected Black enslaved women and girls to sexual violence. hooks emphasizes that although scholars have historically reported that Black enslaved men endured more violence, abuse, and hardships because they were stripped of their masculinity. But in reality, sexism benefited Black male slaves, who were valuable because of their masculinity (pg. 43). Black enslaved women were stripped of their autonomy, femininity, and livelihood as early as their journey to the new world and black men, white men, and white women were all complicit in their exploitation. Amalgamation laws (1664)- aimed to reduce the sexual interactions between Black men and white women. These laws led to the importation of Black Female slaves to serve the role of breeders. The offspring of two Black parents would have the lowest status in society and therefore, benefited slave masters (pg. 16) "White women denounced slavery because of their outrage at the sexual barbarity of white men" (pg. 28) Black male slaves witnessed the brutalization and abuse of Black women but, only rallied to the defense of those that were important to them (pg. 35) Black men used their higher status to reproduce American white patriarchal values in their relationships with Black women (pg. 44) Black women desired to be seen as people, as women. They began to feed into respectabilty politics and accepted their role defined by the patriarchy. The only way they saw fit was through becoming complicit in the oppression of women (pg. 49)
"So I run to the lord, please hide me lord"
"Don't you see me down here praying?
Chapter Two : Continued Devaluation of Black Womanhood Core theme: Following the abolition of slavery, Black women continue to be disparaged socially and systematically. Slavery might have been abolished but the violence and harm Black women experienced continued well after. Because the blame about all that was endured was put on Black women, they accepted white ideology about sexual morality and respectability (pg. 54). Black women wanted to challenge the stereotypes that were born out of slavery by presenting themselves modestly (pg. 55). These actions did not have any effect on the harassment they suffered at the hands of men. They sought out employment as maids and cooks and were targets of abuse by their white bosses (pg.57). Interracial marriages between Black men and women were high in concentration but Black women were so degraded that White men steered clear of them because of the negative stigma surrounding Black women and their sexualities (pg.67). This only further restrained their freedoms. Black men warned Black women of interacting with white men because of their roles as the main perpetrators during slavery and this only distanced Black men from their complicity in the abuse. Because of this systematic and social devaluation they were experiencing, Black women shifted their priorities to motherhood. Black women were accustomed to roles as caretakers and the false matriarch myth was born out this. "The term Matriarch implies the existence of a social order in which women exercise social and political power, a state which in now way resembles the condition of Black women or all women in society” (pg. 72) Black women were expected to fufill their responsibilities as the family caretakers with no complaints. While Black men were sympathized with for being unemployed due to their unwillingness to carry out jobs that did not support their masculinity (pg. 79). Black men supported and indulged in the sexist ideologies about Black matriarchs. "All the myths and stereotypes used to characterize Black womanhood have their roots in anti-woman mythology" (pg.86)
"So easy to idolize All others above"
"So worth the yearning for"
Chapter Three: The Imperialism of Patriarchy Core theme: The sexist politics of white ruled America reinforced the minds of Black people, specifically of Black men to believe they were superior of Women. White women at the front of the movement for Feminism made no effort to hold themselves accountable for the role they played in supporting the patriarchy due to their higher status in society. Black men held leadership roles and were celebrated while Black female leaders were ignored (pg. 89). Because of this the construction of the Black liberation movement was built on a patriarchal foundation. Black male leaders were supportive of Black women's desire to gain political rights but did not support their fight towards social and gender equality (pg. 91). 20th century Black male leaders gained notoriety through the promotion of a world with a social structure that mirrored the structure of white patriarchal America (pg. 97). Black men took advantage of the sexist foundation established by white men to oppress those within their own communities. Because of this, Black women could not ally themselves with neither white feminist groups or Black male led liberation groups as both actively oppressed them. The Black Muslim movement attracted Black women because men fulfilled their roles as leaders which glorified manhood and promoted the elevation of Black women through the devaluation of white women. This only demonstrated that men are encouraged to view all women as their enemies waiting to tempt them (pg. 114) "There can be no freedom for patriarchal men of all races as long as they advocate subjugation of Women." (pg 117)
Quotes from The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley “An educated woman, I suppose, can’t resist the temptation to correct an uneducated man” (82) All women, by their nature, are fragile and weak: they are attracted to the male in whom they see strength” (pg. 180) "Women talked too much” (pg. 326)
Malcolm X on wife Betty Shabazz "I guess by now I will say I love Betty. She's the only woman I ever even thought about loving. And she's one of the very few-four womenwhom I have ever trusted. The thing is, Betty's a good Muslim woman and wife"
"If I treat you kindly, does it mean that I'm weak? You hear me speak and think I won't take it to the streets"
"Why for you to increase, I must decrease?"
Chapter Four: Racism and Feminism: The Issue of Accountability
Core theme: The dominant movement for Feminism did not acknowledge nor recognize the exclusion of BIPOC Feminists
White women that organized within the feminist movement did not educate themselves on racial politics and were ignored the obstacles that divided women (pg. 122). White women began to distance themselves from white men and believed they were not to be held accountable for the issues white patriarchal America had constructed. "To Black women the issue is not whether white women are more or less racist than white men, but that they are racist" (pg. 124). Black women were excluded from feminist organizing because of white women's inability to recognize marginalized women as women (pg 144). This led to the emergence of Black feminist organizations and collectives that white feminists believed threatened the solidarity of women. "The white patriarchal power structure pits the growth of solidarity between women and ensuring that women's status as a subordinate group under patriarchy remains intact" (pg. 155)
"My people started running a long time ago And they are still fighting"
"As Black feminists and Lesbians we know that we have a very definite revolutionary task to perform and we are ready for the lifetime of work and struggle before us." April 1977 "Revolution was never meant to be easy"
Chapter Five: Black Women and Feminism Core Theme: Black women should prioritize sisterhood and join the movement towards women's liberation Sojourner Truth was one of the first feminists to call attention to the harsh realities Black women were living in America. She used her experience as a previously enslaved woman to persuade people to pay attention and to give Black women their flowers for their contributions to the movement for women's rights. White women created obstacles to keep Black women from having platforms within the movement. People admire and exploit Black women's strength yet never take their pleads for freedom and justice seriously (pg. 182) This made Black women reluctant to join the Feminist movement. But bell hooks urges more women to be feminists. She specifically sends a message out to Black women to join the movement because they pioneered it (pg. 196). hooks hopes that as more Black women join, they will reach their collective goal of freedom, showing people that it's possible.
"Our Struggle for liberation has significance only if it takes place within a feminist movement that has as its fundamental goal the liberation of all people"