A Black Feminist Statement: Stereotypes in Todays Society

The Black Feminist statement made it clear that Black Feminists were not only against the oppression of black women, but also against all oppressions: racial, sexual, heterosexual and class. They also believed that black women were valuable and that their liberation should not have been just an addition to that of black men. They had rejected queenhood and being pplaced on pedestals and simply desired to be recognized as human beings. Black Feminists had many differences when compared to white Feminists. One of the most conspicuous differences was how Black Feminists felt the need to unite with progressive black men, while white Feminists advocated a separation from their male racial counterparts. I believe this was becasue black women in general felt the shared a common struggle with black men and that was their race and the subjugation they went through due simply becasue of the clor of their skin. While white women and white men have never been demonized and hated due to the color of their skin so there was not really a commanality between white men and women.

The Black Feminist Statement also stated how they were fighting multiple oppressions without racial, sexual, heterosexual or class privileges to rely upon. I found it very interesting how black women were considered to be lower class citizens simply due to their race and sex. I remember watching a show (20/20 I think) where a group of people were judging two different women and their children. They first judged a black women who was wearing nice clothes and had on diamond earrings, however most of the group thought she was poor and even on welfare. They then judged the white women who wasn't dressed as nicely and perceived her as being a stay at home mother with a husband who had a stable job and they believed her social standing to be middle or upper middle class. An African American Women in the group said that, "The black women has to struggle and work extra hard for everything and the white women doesn't have to worry about anything." This interests me a lot because as human beings we have to be able to see past the color of ones skin, but instead there are still lingering stereotypes that make African Americans seem like athletes or citizens on welfare. I believe that a history of racism, sexism and enslavement has created a set perception towards African Americans, and more specifically Black Women.