BF Thought

Question 1

Who was Maria Stewart?

Answer 1

• 1st American woman to lecture in public space on political issue
• 183£
• She claimed that Blacks had been principle support for whites
• Urged BW to forge self-definitions of reliance and independence
• Self-definition was essential for BW survival
• Use their roles as mothers to forge powerful mechanisms of political action
• Foreshadowed themes of BF

Question 2

Who is Alice Walker ?

Answer 2

• A scholar
• Terms BF as womanism in 1983 as one who is committed to the survival and wholeness of an entire people
• suggesting that BF was different from WF and raised the question of BF’s different historical legacies

Question 3

What is Black Feminist though?

Answer 3

• consists of ideas pronounced by BW that clarify a standpoint of and for BW
• It’s impossible to separate the structure and theme of thought from the historical and material conditions facing the producers - meaning while BFT can be recorded by others can only be produced By BW
• BW have a unique viewpoint of their experiences and certain common perceptions shared by groups of BW
• While living life as a BW may produce certain commonalities class, region, age and sexual orientation shape BWs lives differently - universal themes maybe expressed differently
• It assumes that while BW standpoint exists its contours may not be clear to BW themselves
• BFT contains observations and interpretations about AAWomanhood that describe and explain different expression of common themes

Question 4

What’s a necessity for BF centred analysis and why?

Answer 4

• Self-definition, Self-valuation
• defining and valuing ones consciousness of ones self-defined standpoint in the face of images that portray images of them as the ‘other’ is an important way of resisting dehumanisation, which has been essential for domination
• Since BW have been denied the authority to challenge these definitions this model consists of negative images of BW

Question 5

What does Collins mean by Outsider-Within?

Answer 5

• uses it to describe BW experiences and social location of them
• Domestic work gave BW an opportunity to see white elites both actual and aspiring from new perspectives - though economically exploited by whites
• She asserts BW can not be part of Black social thought or feminist thought as one assumes BM the other whiteness
• Therefore they are left outsiders
• this provides her with a unique perspective on social, economic, politicsl, intellectual outlooks on feminist and social thought

Question 6

Define Collin’s Intellectual Activism

Answer 6

• a key process in developing BFT
• Reclaiming BF intellectual traditions is vital in intellectual activism
• As they have been oppressed for so long reclaiming and centring these works preserves intellectual traditions and encourages continued contributions of BFT
• Also important to rediscover and analyse subgroups in AAW that have been silenced = must give equal attention to marginalised groups like lesbians
• She argues all forms of work be considered as black women social thought e.g. poetry, blues

Question 7

Define Collin’s Matrix of Domination

Answer 7

• Explains how structural, disciplinary, hegemonic, interpersonal domains of power reappear across different forms of oppression like race, gender
• All black women are within matrix of domination but the differences in the intersections of oppression make experiences differ

Question 8

Define Collin’s self-definition

Answer 8

• The power to name ones own reality
• the rejection of dominant groups definition of BW and BW own definiton indicates a collective of BW consciousness
• this is integral to BFT
• She notes the importance of safe spaces for BW where self-definiton is not clouded by objectification or silencing

Question 9

What does Nancy White say about her outsider view

Answer 9

• while in domestic work she points out WW can run their husband’s lives to a point. Yet most of them have to see what he tells them is there to see
• showing women were viewed as passive and fragile
• yet if thats the cas why were BW treated to do heavy work

Question 10

What does Alice Walker say about her outsider perspective?

Answer 10

• it allowed her to really see people and things, really notice relationship