Hey y’all! I am so excited to be here today introducing yet another new series! Welcome to Chase Joy Chanise’s deep dive into Black Feminist Theory. I am going to try my best to introduce BFT but I will be honest, I am actively learning as much as I can. As you will see, BFT covers A LOT of ground. So, let’s begin!
What is it?
Intersectionality. Intersectionality is the one term needed to begin conversations of Black Feminist Theory. At its core BFT addresses how discrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender, and class derail a person’s innate freedom and autonomy. Like I mentioned earlier, Black Feminist Theory extends even further out to address disabilities, sexuality, politics (actually more focal than you may think,) and even environmentalism. Naturally, BFT centers Black women. Historically, Black women have had their voices extinguished in Black liberation and mainstream feminism movements. Writing BFT Texts are an author’s act of resistance, reading said texts are your’s.
Intersectionality- the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.
Resistance Reading.
I am so excited to start delving into Black Feminist Theory texts. The wealth of knowledge my predecessors, Black women writers, have gifted the community is invaluable. I am particularly looking forward to branching out to Black Feminist Texts from throughout the diaspora. But we’re starting with the African-American experience.
Here’s how this is going to go on the blog:
- At least once a month there will be a blog post on Black Feminist Theory!
- I will be reading, dissecting, analyzing, and commenting on each book, chapter by chapter to ensure the writing gets its due.
- I will bring all that I learn and all poignant statements back here to dicusss with y’all!
Learning about Black Feminist Theory has certainly put my experiences into perspective and has made me unapologetic. I hope that every Black girl, woman, and femme that comes across my blog gains that same power.
Where Are We Starting?
Our first text will be Joan Morgan’s When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost. This is my first BFT Text and I have read about halfway through it already and it has struck enough of a chord to change the trajectory of my life. I’ll formally introduce the book next week for our first Resistance Reading post! Until then I’ll cut things off here and get to reading.
P.S. I like “Resistance Reading,” it has a ring to it. I googled the term and it seems to have scientific usage. Can I coin it for the community anyways? Best believe I’m using it throughout the series though.
P.P.S. I just came up with the idea to capitalize the sis, “ReSIStance Reading.” Is it a good idea?.
Here’s the link to an article with a list of books that will be guiding what I read to start out this series. The only text that I have read cover to cover that is featured here is Sula by Toni Morrison. Morrison has been my favorite author, ever since reading Sula. I can’t wait to re-read it with y’all!
Also, I have addressed the sexual liberation of Black women in music and defined misogynoir in a previous post. Check that out here!
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