Black Panther Party Argument Analysis

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

The book draws on a variety of scholarship across numerous fields, including African American history, women’s history, colonial American history, feminist theory, and cultural studies. As a professor of both Social and Cultural Analysis as well as History, with research interests in the history of the Black Atlantic World, comparative slavery, and gender and sexuality studies, Morgan is clearly quite adept at working with the intersection of such ideas. She also articulates the necessity of employing such a range of fields to fill the surprising gaps and omissions in the current

Because of sexist opinions of the time, many people believed that a woman had no power to create change, especially in government since she could not vote. Women themselves believed this societal expectation, and although Grimke does not reject society’s idea of femininity and womanhood entirely, she specifically rejects their supposed political incompetence in a rebuttal. Using evidence from general and specific political movements in England, all of which were greatly aided by the support of women petitioning the government, Grimke assured her audience that “When the women of these States send up to Congress such a petition our legislators will arise, as did those of England, and say: ‘When all the maids and matrons of the land are knocking at our doors we must legislate.’” (Grimke, 192) This summary of her somewhat vague past points is similarly nonspecific; however, this is still effective since simply alluding to historical events rather than explaining them was sufficient for an audience that knew more about England and its history than contemporary Americans do today.

The death of Inez Milholland greatly impacted the suffrage movement since she was one of the main forces behind it. The entire suffrage movement lost hope in their cause along with their inspiring leader. It seemed as though the campaign was over, especially once Wilson was reelected. Inez’s funeral consisted of virtually all women who felt as though they lost a “sister.” Alice Paul was one of the most affected, and she even began to question the purpose of suffrage in the first place.

In the period between 1900 and 1920, the federal government and reformers were very successful in bringing social, economic, and political reform to the federal government. While not every aspect of it was successful, the rights of women, fighting against child labor and limiting the control of trusts and monopolies were three distinct successes of that time. Even before the progressive era, women challenged their place and articulated new visions of social, political and economic equality. The progressive era was a turning point for women as organizations evolved fighting for equal rights. Woman began to become very involved in a variety of reform movements.

Her tragedy reflects not only the sexism in the African American families in early 20th century, but also the uselessness

Prejudice and fear are weak barriers against passions, which inherent in our nature and demanding only judicious training to form the ornament, and supply the best joys of our existence, are maddened into violence, varied with as pernicious indulgence.” (Doc #2) The efforts made by the feminist movement of the Antebellum-era set forth a precedent for the expansion of women’s rights in the decades following and up until present day. The patriarchal society that had controlled the nation since its birth was finally met with opposition from those who had been oppressed for so long. Through the dismissal of restrictive gender roles and expectations, the voices of women were finally allowed to influence decision making, and ultimately create changes that would promote equal opportunity for all

The excerpt I chose to reflect on is called “An End to the Neglect of the Problems of the Negro Woman!” by Claudia Jones (1949). Jones express the concerns that women of color in her time suffer from the neglect and degradation they receive throughout their lives. During this time, the reason many African American women go through the struggles in their community originated from the notion that the “bourgeoisie is fearful of the militancy of the Negro woman” (108). In my opinion, they have every right to be afraid of African American women. As Jones stated nicely "once Negro women undertake action, the militancy of the whole Negro people, and thus of the anti-imperialist coalition, is greatly enhanced" (108).

Women began working outside of the home rebelling Victorian principles. Flappers were not politically motivated. This culture was more about rebelling authority and free spirit. This lifestyle strangely empowered the women’s movement leading to a woman’s right to vote. Such unrest, change, and free spirit only lasted a decade.

Tiffany M. Gill’s Beauty Shop Politics takes place during the Jim Crow era. Gill’s argument is that the role of African-American women is significant, but greatly overlooked in their tradition. These women were entrepreneurs and served their community, but their hard work and contributions went without recognition. On the first page of the Introduction, Gill mentions, “the black beauty industry since its inception has served as an incubator for black women’s political activism and a platform from which to agitate for social and political change. In so doing, I restore economics and entrepreneurship as important variables in black women’s activism and community building and argue that the beauty industry played a crucial role in the creation

Women Suffrage Movement did not end at 1912, but this year was the most significant breakthrough through the whole event. For the first time of the national party in United States, Republican Party adopted a women’s suffrage plank. “The favorable Minority Report meant that some of the leaders of the Republican Party supported women 's rights claims on the Constitution.” (Dubois, 124) Dubois suggested that Republican Party somewhat support women’s rights, even though they did not began their action

Working women might have had the passion needed to further the Progressive Movement, but they didn’t have the finances to fund it. Luckily for them, plenty of wealthy women supported the fight for women’s equality and were willing to provide the financial backing necessary. Alva Belmont, an extraordinarily wealthy and influential socialite, “took over the women’s suffrage

The women’s rights movement being an extensive movement helped women to occupy better jobs and higher positions “Increased access to leadership positions is an important achievement because – in terms of gender – the field is more level now: some women will be allies, some are not, but no one is excluded only for being a woman”. Today, women can choose to occupy the jobs that were once titled only for men and they have an equal employment opportunity “Because of workplace rights, women enjoy freedom to work in almost any position they choose. They join the armed forces, work as cab drivers, own businesses and become executives in large corporations” Women can now become ministers, juries, senates, and even the president “1975 — In Taylor v. Louisiana, the court denies states the right to exclude women from juries….1981 — Sandra Day O’Connor is appointed as the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice… 1997 — Madeleine Albright is sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State. She is the first woman in this position.”

Governmental corruption saw much improvement in regulation and law enforcement during the Progressive Era for women’s rights in politics. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the movement sought to refine female welfare and injustice within America. Progressives sought two main goals regraded politics: to use the state and control power and trusts, and to improve individual conditions of life and labor (Kennedy, Cohen, Bailey, pg 708). After the Civil War, colleges for ambitious and goal-oriented young women rose around various locations in the country. An improved school system created a generation of college-educated protestors who were aggressive in their beliefs and protested even more passionately.

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.