Femme noire by Tabitha Chester

Ti t l e Goes H er e

Femme Noire Volume 2 I ssue 1

I NT RODUCT I ON

To the readers, T he 2016 election is potentially the most important election of our lifetimes. Granted, they do say that every election season, but this time we think it's true. T he next president will determine the direction in which our country goes, which is especially significant given the critical situation we are currently in. We're at a tipping point right now; the next president could make some positive changes that would really propel us forward or some negative ones that would set us back decades. Many of these issues are black feminist issues, like police brutality and racial discrimination, reproductive rights and affordable health care, women's rights and equal pay, and L GBT Q+ equality. So, with all this in mind, vote and vote wisely. And ask yourself if you want to help move our country forward or if you want to set it back.

Julia Tallant '20 - I decided to take Womanism and Black Feminist T hought because I wanted to challenge myself to be more of an intersectional feminist. Norma Sance '18- I decided to take Womanism and Black Feminist T hought because I wanted to continue to learn more about feminism and its importance in society.

Author s

Cierra King '20 - I decided to take Womanism and Black Feminist T hought because I wanted to learn more about the suppression of black women in society

T HE 2016 EL ECT I ON AND BL ACK FEMI NI ST T HOUGHT T he Story of Shirley Chisolm..............................3 W hat Would Happen I f.......................................4 W hy I 'm With Her..............................................5 On Voting for the First T ime...............................6 Pros and Cons to Hillary's Campaign..................7 Election T unes....................................................7 Quotes to Get You Going.....................................8 Works Cited........................................................9

Fear less: T he Stor y of Shir ley Chisolm By: Norma Sance I n 1968, Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm became the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress. I n 1972, she became the first black candidate for a major party's nomination for President of the United States and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Chisholm was one of the first to combine many of the intersectional elements present in our modern Democratic Party. She opened the campaign doors for African Americans and for women. Chisholm took on the establishment and refused to be bowed or cowed by the weight of the innumerable powerful interests that shape our political landscape. T he essence of her campaign slogan? ?Unbought and unbossed? showed her unapologetic pride in being a black woman running for a political position against white men. She ran because she felt she needed to be the first minority/ person of color to open up opportunities for others like her to stand up and rise against this white heteronormative society and government. During her campaign, she noticed that the world around her was not judging her so much on the color of her skin but because she was a woman. Shirley expressed frustration about the "black matriarch thing", saying, "T hey think I am trying to take power from them. T he black man must step forward, but that doesn't mean the black woman must step back? (Wikipedia). Shirley Chisholm fought for the right for women of color to have a voice in politics all while sticking it to the man. W hy should women hold themselves back in order to spare a man?s feelings and ego? Shirley was one of the first female politicians to publicly refuse to do that.

W hat Would H appen I f... By: Norma Sance T his Gallup poll was released July 19th, 2016 and interviewed more than 900 African American and Hispanic adults and over 1,300 whites. I t showed Hispanics as the least concerned about the outcome of the election. Nearly 3 in 4 African American women are ?strongly? afraid of what will happen if their candidate loses the presidential election (T he Washington Post 2016). Although T rump has touted the support of several African Americans, many African Americans have not forgotten how the businessman took up the cause of the birther movement, demanding that Obama prove he was an American citizen and eligible to hold the office of president. Many considered it a racially-motivated attack on the first black president (T he Washington Post 2016). I n recent times, the Black L ives Matter Movement has caused more uproar in the upcoming elections. Black women are concerned for both their children and future children. T his upcoming election is important, especially in how it pertains to the different forms of discrimination going on in this country.

W hy I 'm With H er ... by: Cierra King ?I f you want something said , ask a man; if you want something done, ask women.? Margaret T hatcher W hen I think of the election, I see only a new beginning into a new era. Hillary Clinton has so many advantages, as the first female major party candidate for president. Just like Barack Obama made history for being the first African-American president, Hillary is on her way to becoming the first female president. But the question is W hy should black women feel secure about voting for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election? Black women should be more confident in their vote for Hillary Clinton because she is more educated in the political arena, she is more reasonable, and she is more of an activist for social equality than Donald T rump. I ndeed, Hillary Clinton is well qualified to be the next president of the United States. I mean she received a great education from Wellesley College in 1969 and then furthered her education at Yale L aw school. I n the political sense, Hillary Clinton was very well known as an advocate for children in Arkansas. Hillary Clinton even ? taught criminal law criminal procedure, and trial advocacy..? etc. Hillary has experience in the health care, and the educational system. W hile Bill Clinton, her husband, was in office Hillary made it her duty to fight for Health Care for all, even though the majority of the health insurance companies did not approve. I can see her willingness to fight for what she believes is best for our Country. Hillary gave speeches on ?women's rights, being human rights,? and even became the first woman to serve as U.S Senator in New York City. Moreover, Hillary was elected U.S Secretary of State under Barack Obama, even though she fought long and hard to become president in 2008. As I look at her educational and political background, I feel much safer to vote for her than Donald T rump, who has no experience whatsoever in the political arena. Now I know you're probably thinking, okay she has political experience, but why as a Black woman should you vote for her? Well, Hillary Clinton is more of a reasonable candidate. She has a great educational background, and she has so much more experience than Donald T rump. But as I deeply involve myself into the political debate, I can pinpoint areas in Hillary?s plans that make better more since than Donald trump's. For example, Donald T rump does not give a damn about women rights, especially for black women. He only sees women as ? gold diggers,? while Hillary Clinton supports women.

6 Another reason why I am voting for Hillary is due to her being an advocate for women's health and reproductive rights, confronting violent actions toward the everyday women, and fighting for pay leave. She is even fighting for women who make minimum wage as she notices a majority of the minimum wage percentage is earned by women. I am also voting for Hillary Clinton because she recognizes that majority of black women receives less pay than men, so she is planning to fight to end the pay gap. On the other hand, T rump is more focused on business and the economy and less focused on social issues that critically affect women, especially black women every day. W hile Donald T rump plans to build a wall, Hillary is planning to attack gun control laws and police brutality that affects the streets of every city in the United States. I would rather vote for someone who is planning on fighting for social justice or equality, than someone who is only trying to claim ? L aw and order?. Above all, I plan to vote for Hillary Clinton because she is more focused on social equality, not just for men, women, and children. But she is focused on black men, black women, black children. Hillary Clinton is planning to first provide more finances to planned parenthood to young adolescents with planning and educating on being a parent. On the other hand, T rump plans to fight I SI S over in I raq, while Hillary plans to settle the streets, making sure every police official is trained properly before stepping out of their vehicle. W hy should black women vote for Hillary Clinton? Well, I would better off the vote for someone who has experience, the majority of her plans are reasonable, and she has a bigger and better plan for social equality than Donald T rump. I know the # I mwithHerI guess hashtag is going around, but I would rather put the rights of my life in her hand than in Donald T rump's hands. Yes, Hillary Clinton said some things about the black men back when Bill Clinton was president, but we have to forgive her and continue to move forward. I am not going for Donald T rump's slogan ? Make America Great Again,? when really he wants power and segregation. Black women are more likely to progress with Hillary than with T rump. . W hy would voting for Hillary Clinton be the most influential candidate to vote for, besides being a ?Woman,? she is fighting issues that affect women in their everyday life. She supports the right to choose abortion, affordable healthcare, and rights for women, children, people of color, and the L GBT Q community. T hat?s why ? I am with Her.?

On Voting for the Fir st T ime by: Julia Tallant I t absolutely blows my mind that I get to vote in the upcoming 2016 presidential election. I think that this is partially because I am in denial of my adulthood (being five was SO much easier) and partially because it is overwhelming to be somewhat responsible for the fate of my country. To be completely honest, there is a little piece of me that wishes that there was a cut off age for voters. Great Aunt Sally, I know that you want those tax cuts that Drumpf keeps on promising so you can buy more cats, but you're not the one that is going to have to live with the consequences of his actions. I think that sometimes we forget that the effects of a president's policies last much longer than his or her four or eight year presidency. I am really excited that I get to vote in Ohio this election because it makes me feel very important. T he candidates are essentially begging for my vote, and it makes me feel like my vote actually matters. I know that if I filled in an absentee ballot for my home state of Georgia, I would be one of three people voting for Hillary. But in Ohio, my voice can actually make a difference. Of all the things that you get to do when you turn 18, I think that voting is the most important and impactful one. I t is even more important when you consider all of the people who have fought to extend the right to vote to groups other than white, property-owning men. So with that in mind, I 'll march down to the local voting location come November 8th, figure out how to vote, actually vote, and wear my Ohio voter sticker proudly because I 'll know that I made my voice heard.

Pr os and Cons to H illar y's Campaign by: Norma Sance Pr os

Cons

Fighting for equal pay for Back then, supported Abstinence but now women for jobs same as men says she is pro choice? Supports same-sex marriage T here is not much depth to the L GBT Q+ support other than same sex marriage, Expanding women?s rights what about trans people, non gender Focus on family issues, conforming or queer people of color? supports universal preschools Expand women?s rights is great, but how will this affect women of color? Family issues? How will this work for people of different economic backgrounds

Election T unes Compiled by: Julia Tallant Donald's T r emendous Playlist

H illar y's Ver y Gr eat Playlist

Blurred L ines...Robin T hicke

Run the World (Girls)...BeyoncĂŠ

Gold Digger...Kanye West Accidental Racist...Brad Paisley

Can't Pin Me Down...Marina and the Diamonds

I llegal Alien...Genesis

I Ain't Your Mama...Veronica Jax

Money Machine...James Taylor

No Scrubs...T L C

Oi! (I Don't L ike You)...Skrewdriver

Girl Almighty...One Direction You Don't Own Me...L esley Gore

Quotes to Get You Going Compiled by: Norma Sance

?I f I didn?t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people?s fantasies for me and eaten alive.? ~Audre L orde ?I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else?s whim or to someone else?s ignorance.? ~Bell Hooks ?Don?t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you?ve got to make yourself.? ~Alice Walker ?W hen I dare to be powerful- to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.? ~Audre L orde ?I used to want the words ?She tried?on my tombstone. Now I want ?She did it?.? ~Katherine Dunham ?Nothing will work unless you do.? ~Maya Angelou ?Self-esteem means knowing you are the dream.? ~Oprah Winfrey ?No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow.? ~Alice Walker ?I am a feminist, and what that means to me is much the same as the meaning of the fact that I am Black: it means that I must undertake to love myself and to respect myself as though my very life depends upon self-love and self-respect.? ~June Jordan Quotes brought to you by: Happy Black Women.com

Wor ks Cited ?Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016.? Wikipedia. N.p.: Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Oct. 2016 Rosetta. ?67 I nspiring Quotes By Black Women on Happiness, Perseverance, Fear and Success.?Happy Black Woman.com. 24 Aug. 2011. ?Shirley Chisholm.? Wikipedia. N.p.: Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Sept. 2016. Williams, Vanessa, and Scott Clement. ?Black Women Are Most Worried about the Outcome of the 2016 Election, Poll Finds.? Washington Post. Washington Post, 19 July 2016. "African-Americans W ho Ran for President." African-Americans W ho Ran for President. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2016. Bahadur, Nina. "18 Real T hings Donald T rump Has Actually Said About Women." T he Huffington Post. N.p., n.d. Web. By Clicking. "Hillary Clinton on the I ssues." Hillary Clinton 2016. Paid for by America, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2016."Record of Achievement." She Wins We Win. Feminist Majority, 26 Jan. 2016. Web. 02 Oct. 2016.

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