Angela Davis: A Social Activist

In the article The Politics of Black Women’s Studies by Akasha Hull and Barbara Smith, Hull and Smith studiously literate the politics and controversy around the fundamentals of black women’s studies in the past and modern day. Furthermore, the ideology of the article falls under the premise that racism and prejudice are still current and prominent factors that affect the development of black women’s studies in the way it is taught in universities, and the role it takes upon the lives of black women. To begin, it is evident that the premise of the article is solely based on the pros and cons that derive from black women attempting to exist in a white man’s world by making a name for themselves in society. Hull and Smith state that “the necessity

Davis, Angela Y. Women, Race, & Class. New York: Random House, 1981. Print. Kaba, Amadu Jacky. "Race, Gender And Progress: Are Black American Women

If black women were free, everyone would be free, because that would mean all systems of oppression had been destroyed (Balliet, pg. 162). The Collective would continue to examine politics, including racism in white women’s

The seemingly endless battle for civil rights was one fought long and hard and during the 20th century a time of fruition occurred that allowed for concrete and tangible progress though the efforts of many, including key black intellectual revolutionaries. The call to freedom, and the fight for civil liberties to be bestowed upon people of color, who for hundreds of years were perceived as subordinate was happening. Change was fought through self-determination, and a burgeoning of powerful ideologies that laid the foundation for movement to be made.

Historically, the Civil Rights Movement was a time during the 1950’s and 1960’s to eliminate segregation and gain equal rights. Looking back on all the events, and vital figures it produced, this explanation is very unclear. In order to fully understand the Civil Rights Movement, you have to go back to its beginning. Most people believe that Rosa Parks began the whole civil rights movement. She did in fact move the Civil Rights Movement to groundbreaking heights but its origin began in 1954 with Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka. Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka was the foundation for change in American History as a whole. Some may argue that Plessy vs. Ferguson is in fact backdrop for the Civil Rights Movement, but I disagree. Plessy

First, Ella Baker’s childhood had the significant impact on her as an activist. “She was part of a close-knit racially proud family, whose ancestors had been community leader with a southern African American tradition of cooperating with and helping one another that was carried in by her family” (“Ella Josephine Baker”). She was born in Norfolk, Virginia on December 13, 1903. Influenced by her family at young age, she became interested in helping out people in need. “Baker listened to her grandmother tell stories about slave revolt” (“SNCC”).

The Black Power Movement was the time for Blacks to set their own agenda, putting their needs and aspirations first. An early step, in fact, was the replacement of the word “Negro”— a word associated with the years of slavery and oppression — with “Black.” Women, dedicated to the goals, often looked beyond obstacles and performed many of the basic tasks necessary for the operation of the movement. They wrote articles for the Black Panther newspaper, tutored children in the liberation schools, offered legal advice to prisoners, organized rallies, distributed fliers and pamphlets and spoke to their local communities about solutions to economic and social problems. And, of course, women like Angela Davis (above) and Elaine Brown took leadership roles and plotted strategy.

This is the case that is made by Danielle McGuire in At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women’s, Rape, and Resistance-A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power. In this text, the author expands the discussion of the challenges that African American women contended with prior to and during the civil rights movement during the mid-twentieth century. The author argues that the rape and sexual violence that was prevalent during this era and its impact on Black women received minimal attention. The organization and activism that was fueled by women was similarly minimized (McGuire, 2010.

Afro-American women writers present how racism permeates the innermost recesses of the mind and heart of the blacks and affects even the most intimate human relationships. While depicting the corrosive impact of racism from social as well as psychological perspectives, they highlight the human cost black people have to pay in terms of their personal relationships, particularly the one between mother and daughter. Women novelists’ treatment of motherhood brings out black mothers’ pressures and challenges for survival and also reveals their different strategies and mechanisms to deal with these challenges. Along with this, the challenges black mothers have to face in dealing with their adolescent daughters, who suffer due to racism and are heavily influenced by the dominant value system, are also underlined by these writers. They portray how a black mother teaches her daughter to negotiate the hostile, wider world, and prepares her to face the problems and challenges boldly and confidently.

As black women always conform under patriarchal principles, women are generally silenced and deprived of rights because men are entitled to control everything. Women are silenced in a way that they lose their confidence and hesitate to speak up due to the norms present in the society they live in. Hence, even if women have the confidence to try to speak, men wouldn’t bother to listen since men ought to believe that they are superior to women. In addition to that, women often live in a life cycle of repetitions due to patriarchal principles since women are established to fulfill the roles the society had given them. It is evidenced by Celie as she struggles to survive and to define oneself apart from the controlling, manipulative, and abusive men in her life.

Any individual can be a hero if he/she is willing to make sacrifices and act selfless to help others. A hero is brave, determined, and confident. Their actions influence people around them to adopt these noble qualities The acts that Rosa Parks has done demonstrates the many traits of a true hero.

In her early life, she was influenced by her father when it came to learning. As a young girl, she had many childhood events and a great education that impacted her life. Born in White Sulphur, WV, she was like a walking and talking robot. Her parents were a huge contribution to her success. Her father wanted her to have such a good education that he moved to a different school.

His family was poor growing up but it didn’t stop him from achieving his dreams. Ruby Dee was born on August of 27 1922. She was born as Ruby Ann Wallace, but she changed it later in life. She grew up in Harlem. Ossie Davis was an intelligent, well-liked man (opinion?

Collins introduces how black feminism gained its foothold within black activism which peaked during the 1960's. As the plight of blacks became more well known to the people of America this also granted an opportunity for other groups previously under-represented within the black community to share their struggles as well (black women, black members of the LGBTQ etc.). Once black feminism grew strong enough it became a part of other movements and gradually became better represented over time. However, it seems that due to this initial under-representation of black feminism the current plight of black men is being seen as worse than the plight faced by black women. This problematic view has led to black boys being helped over black girls as explained

Scott King carried the Civil Rights movement on her shoulders and used her voice to help, guide, comfort, and inspire others during this trying time. Coretta Scott King has made herself known as a prominent activist and her legacy should be remembered and continued for generations and generations to