Calling All Women: A Study In the History of Black and White American Women Activists, 1830-1980
Author:
Nicole Monique Carrier
Degree Date:
August, 1988
Committee Chairperson:
William E. Cross, Jr.
Call Number:
Thesis DT 3.5 1988 C316
Description:
viii, 218 leaves; 29 cm.
Abstract:
This study examines the Black Feminist Movement in the United States from a historical and contemporary perspective. Black feminism is presented as both an autonomous and proactive movement and as a movement spawned, to a considerable degree, in response to the failure of other progressive movements to include Black women and their issues. By examining the history of Black Women's activism in two major time periods, (1830-1920 and 1950-1980), it is shown that Black women have challenged race and class discrimination in women's movements, sexist discrimination in Black liberation movements, and homophobia in both.
Following the historical overview, the study traces the development of Black feminism as part of a long continuum of Black women's activism, identifies key Black feminist and examines their respective ideological positions, and briefly summaries the main tenets of Black feminist theory. The study concludes on a speculative note about the likelihood of a meaningful rapprochement between Black and white feminists in the not-too-distant future.