Last year I embarked on a project to better understand why some black men treat black women poorly. I just didn’t understand why black men would further oppress their sisters. When I sat down to start my research, I found myself in the world of black feminism — a space I wasn’t sure I understood. But I was determined to learn. I went all the way back to the basics. I started cataloging feminist thinkpieces and resources from around the web in order to help me find my space in the world of black feminism specifically. I eventually became comfortable enough to write about some of my own experiences with intersectional feminism.
Feminism a wide-ranging topic with many facets, each of which has its own historical context and modern-day understanding. There’s a lot to take in! I’m certainly no expert, but having lots of resources on hand has been immensely helpful in my learning process.
If you’re a beginner like me and want to better understand intersectional feminism, here are some great resources you have to check out:
Things you can read
Whether you’re looking for some fast facts, quick reads or in-depth research, these websites are awesome spaces for gaining knowledge.
General research
Wikipedia’s feminism pages (for those at the very beginning of their research): Feminism, Black feminism, Chicana feminism and Womanism. Be sure to check out the sources at the bottom of each article for the in-depth info.
#Solidarityisforwhitewomen: hashtag feminism on Twitter
Sesali B.’s trap feminism (and other feminist pieces)
Herstory: The Origins and Continued Relevancy of Black Feminist Thought in the United States
Stanford Women’s Community Center
Search “feminism” right here on Blavity!
Tumblr
My Favorite F Word is Feminism
Things you can watch
The things you can watch to better understand feminism are limitless. Many movies, TV shows and other media might not initially seem to highlight feminism, but might have feminist undertones. The key is to watch anything and everything with a critical eye: How are women being represented? Are there problems with their presentation? Are patterns of representation emerging? Asking questions and analyzing what you watch through a feminist lens will take your understanding to the next level.
We should all be feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Confessions of a bad feminist by Roxane Gay
Jessica’s Feminized Atmosphere
Walk of No Shame with Amber Rose
Amber Rose on It’s Not You, It’s Men
Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It
Diahann Carroll in Julia: A landmark role for black women in TV
John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood and Baby Boy: Analyze for their representations of black women.
How to Get Away with Murder, Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy or any of your favorite shows: Analyze for their representations of women, particularly women of color.
And, if all else fails, there are women’s centers across the country just like Stanford Women’s Community Center that you can go to for support services and advice. It’s easy to begin understanding feminism — all you really have to do is start immersing yourself in it.
