The Revolutionary Spirit Of Womanism
Growing up I did not know about womanism. Though I had been introduced to Alice Walker who coined the term, I was 30-odd years old when I encountered it. This is odd to me because by seventh grade, I was pro-black and pro-woman, just ask my history teacher. Even as a young teacher, I knew feminism alone was not inclusive. In its past and modern history, it tended to take on the white supremacist patriarchal mindset so being pro-black woman was essential to my survival. Yes, survival.
I have lived in predominately white environments my entire life. Most everything around me is in opposition to my existence, covertly and overtly. Taking ownership of my humanity is necessary to survive in these spaces. The year 2020 brought a significant disruption to the status quo of patriarchy, misogynoir, and sexism in the United States and around the globe. It was then through a series of social media discussions and internet searches that womanism made its formal introduction to me. It was liberation. Being, working, and living in white spaces is an ongoing battle to own yourself. And womanism reminded me of who the f*ck I Am.
Womanism is liberation
At its core, womanism is a social and political movement that centers the experiences and liberation of Black women. It recognizes the interconnectedness of various forms of oppression, such as racism, sexism, classism, and heterosexism. Womanism emphasizes collective action as a means to challenge and dismantle these systems of oppression. The activist spirit of womanism promotes solidarity among marginalized communities, fostering alliances that work toward social change.
By engaging in collective action, womanists create spaces for dialogue and empowerment where intersectional perspectives can thrive. This approach enables the creation of inclusive movements that address not only gender inequality but also the broader issues faced by marginalized individuals.
Sources:
“5 Things to Know to Make Your Feminism Trans-Inclusive.” n.d. HRC. https://www.hrc.org/resources/5-things-to-know-to-make-your-feminism-trans-inclusive.
Soken-Huberty, Emmaline. 2022. “What Is Feminism?” Human Rights Careers. December 4, 2022. https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/what-is-feminism/.
Capatosto, Victoria. 2018. “A Brief History of Civil Rights in the United States.” Library.law.howard.edu. 2018. https://library.law.howard.edu/civilrightshistory/womanist.
Lemons, Gary L. 2020. Building Womanist Coalitions : Writing and Teaching in the Spirit of Love. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.