feminism

Feminism between African Americans has become a movement and us black women need to keep it alive. According to Hooks “Feminism- it’s a black thang”, women can no longer be oppressed and have to make a change by our black men in society. I agree with the point that is trying to be conveyed which is stated by hooks, “admit that male domination causes much of the gender conflict and pain experienced in Black women’s lives”. Hooks states “Feminism is a movement to end all sexism and sexist oppression.” Degrading us black women have been going on for too long. In entertainment and in everyday life we see women not being treated fairly. All of this started many years ago when drug use and prostitution came into existence. Women started to be called “hoes” and being disrespected by men. A majority of these women were black. During this time, black women’s value to black men started decreasing even if most women were not prostitutes. This attitude was then brought into our music. Women would be in music videos half naked and black male artist would call us out of our name. Hooks gives an example of these actions by stating “he has responded by bragging in Rolling Stone: “It ain’t no big thing I just threw her through a door” ”. That statement came from a member of NWA which was a rap group that was always degrading Black women. Instead of Black males putting us women down, they should have been trying to empower our children. Hooks mentions “whether a man demands that “his” woman turn her signed check over to him or forces his female companion to do the “wild thing” without a condom, such as assertions of power are sexist and abusive.” I don’t understand the reason why a man thinks they can control a female in any way they want to. Especially the ones who have been raised by only a single mother. Maybe because that single mother has had power over them for so long that they feel it’s time for them to be in control. Most black men have been raised in single parent homes without their fathers being there. They should be the main ones to understand the strength and power of a Black women but they continue to put us down. I’m happy Hooks decided to come up with the feminist movement because it was time for a change. I think it is horrible how some black men show no respect. With feminism comes respect because that’s why Us women are fighting just for our respect from the outside world. Being Black in society is already a challenge, but to be a Black Women is even a greater challenge. We have to make a change in ourselves before society can judge us for who we are not. We look for or Black men to protect us from all the challenges we go through, but all they do is bring us down and degrade us in multiple ways. Creating a feminist movement will help us as women to recognize our true meaning on this earth. It is the males responsible to treat us like queens, but most men do not realize that. So by showing these men our value, we will create a movement. The movement will go on as long as it takes for our men to play their part to us women. Hooks states “A feminist movement that addresses the needs of Black women, men and children can strengthen our bonds with one another, deepen our sense of community and further Black liberation”. I take that statement as a movement that will bring us together as one. We need something like this to change the way we view each other. Instead of us bringing each other down We should help one another rise to the top. We should want our children to grow up with a positive attitude about the opposite sex. Hooks wants us to leave all the negativity in the past in focus on the present day and the future to come. If we bring this negativity with us in the future everything will get worse and it will be too late to make a change. To conclude, feminism will continue to go on until we feel it can come to an end. It will come to an end when we treat each other equally with the right amount of respect. With the help of Hooks and her article this movement will be known all across the world.