Rebecca Walker on Feminist In-Fighting

I know that many Black women have no love for feminism. In many circles, feminism is little more than White woman trying to gain the power that White men have---there is little discussion about empowering women of color. As White women demand entree corporate offices and high level political offices, many old school feminists are mute about the legion of brown woman who hold down these "power" women's homes---caring for their kids and or cleaning her house. Less not even talk about the intersection between racism and sexism---for this crowd it doesn't exist.

bell hooks talked about feminism as a means to achieving equality for everyone. Alice Walker used to term womanism to explore the realities of Black women seeking freedom. So, maybe as a concept feminism, if it facilitates equality and freedom of choice is a good thing---but in order for it to speak to a wider audience it has to put some meaningful action behind updated, more inclusive rhetoric. Within the ranks of feminism it's time for some new thinking and probably some new public leadership. Be clear, it's not about age---some of the younger White feminists seem to parrot the old guard.

See what Alice Walker's daughter, Rebecca, an activist and accomplished author has weighs in feminist-infighting in the Huffington Post


There is a lot of discussion about "feminist in-fighting" of late, spurred by
the election. Jessica Valenti of Feministing.com is doing a piece on the
subject for The Nation. Here is my response to her query:

1. The fact is there have always been many "feminisms," but one dominant,
more visible Feminism, which is essentially comprised of the needs, views, and
philosophies of straight white women with a certain degree of privilege. Now we can add "and of a certain age" to that list. Women of different backgrounds
have been speaking to this issue of exclusivity for decades, and their critiques
have been voluminous. The lack of resolution of these critiques is currently
manifesting in an exacerbated form, and labeled "infighting." There are no new issues on the table. For example, my mother, Alice Walker, did not create the
term "womanist" in the late '70s because she was feeling creative. I did not
offer the concept of Third Wave in the '90s because I wanted to inject a
catchy phrase into the Feminist discourse. And, many "mainstream" women did not
reject the Feminist label in the '60s to present because they don't know what
Feminism really is.

The complaints brought against Feminism include racism, classism, ageism, out of touchism, and a certain tendency toward First World arrogance. There has
been an enduring wariness in communities of color specifically, about
Feminism's mantra of independence rather than interdependence with male family members and the world at large. This would include Feminism's ambivalence about
motherhood, marriage, and domestic life in general. This would include Feminism's divisive and ultimately unhelpful commentary that women need men like fish need
bicycles (women need their grandfathers, fathers, sons, brothers, etc. for a host of reasons too lengthy and obvious to list here). This would include
Feminism's dismissal of religion itself based on its patriarchal leadership. This
would include Feminism's characterization of young women who don't fall in line with the Feminist status quo as naive and ungrateful. This would include Feminism's short-sidedness that will ultimately undo the work of their anointed protegees.

Simply put, if Feminism was Wal-Mart, and had as many decades-old unresolved
grievances against it, it would have long ago been bankrupt.

Read the rest of Rebecca Walker's article Feminist Infighting
at Feminist Infighting