Black Women And Feminism By Bell Hooks Ain t I A Woman

Black women have long been oppressed since they first arrived to the American colonies. Bell Hooks’ Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism traces the steps of slavery to the feminist movements in the 1970s. Written from a black feminist perspective, the book examines the impact of sexism during slavery, the devaluation of black womanhood, the imperialism of patriarchy, racism and feminism, and black women and feminism. Hooks attempts to move beyond racist and sexist assumptions regarding black women and to further the dialogue about and understanding of their experience. She presents a historical, social, and political critique of a systemically racist, sexist, and classist society that has excluded black women. Hooks begins with the†¦show more content†¦The racist exploitation of black women as workers either in the field or domestic household was not as dehumanizing and demoralizing as their sexual exploitation. Hooks is able to clearly reveal the differentiation between the status of male slaves and female slaves in the work area. Sexual exploitation of black women continued long after slavery ended and was institutionalized by other oppressive practices. Hooks provides substantial evidence that the continued devaluation of black womanhood after slavery ended was a conscious, deliberate effort on the part of whites to sabotage mounting black female self-confidence and self-respect. She presents the fact that â€Å"White men employed two important myths to brainwash all whites against the newly freed blacks: the myth of the â€Å"bad,† sexually loose black woman and the myth of the black male rapist† (p. 60). By perpetuating the myth that all black women were incapab le of fidelity and sexually loose, whites hoped to devalue them that no white man would marry a black woman. Also, whites hoped to encourage white male rapists and sexual exploiters to take advantage of black women. In addition to these myths, Hooks lists other negative labels that were used to characterize black womanhood: Aunt Jemima, the mammy, and the Sapphire image. The stereotypical image of Aunt Jemima depicted the black woman as passive, longsuffering, and submissive. The mammy image was portrayed with affection by whitesShow MoreRelatedBlack Feminism : A Profound Effect On Society s History3616 Words   |  15 PagesIntroduction Black Feminism has proven to have a profound effect on society’s history, and is now beginning to impact even more this day and age. Black feminism is broader than what comes to mind. It is an essential component of black struggle against oppression and authority. Generally Black feminism is used to empower and liberate black women. Throughout the years many liberals have tried to exclude and silence black feminist. Black feminist have demanded for social, economic and political equality