I really enjoyed the two readings on Black feminism and Black feminist activists this week. The simultaneous oppressions that Black women experience afford us a valuable and unique standpoint to view world. Though our view isn’t the only that can offer insight on fighting against oppression recognizing that we as Black women are able to offer valuable contribution to this movement is important to note because we have been devalued as a group for so long. I understand why we feel as though by ending the oppression against others we would be helping ourselves but it’s no wonder this is a movement that is difficult to begin and sustain, being that we must “fight the world” to secure their own liberties.

I’ve noticed that feminism is a very touchy subject in the Black community so the mention of it being so in the Combahee River Collective didn’t surprise me. The author’s beliefs in “collective process and a nonhierarchical distribution of power within our own group and in our vision of a revolutionary society” greatly conflict with the pervasive sexism in our community. (316) Acknowledging black women as equals would likely usurp any forthcoming gender advantages for black men should the fight for Black civil rights ever succeed.

One final thing I found interesting was the concept of identity politics.

“We realize that the only people who care enough about us to work consistently for our liberation is us.” (313)

I liked how it supported focusing on your own oppression though it’s still sad that we have no one to fight for us like we fight for all of them.