Why More Black Women are Identifying as Womanists Over Feminists: And Why We Should Embrace Both!

By Samantha M. Thompson @samantha_m.t 

There is a view held by some Black women that feminism isn’t for us, that feminism is a “White women’s club.” While this can be true in certain spaces, I would like to add more nuance to this conversation because this is more than just a black and white issue. 

Firstly, it is crucial to point out that this is a conversation held around Western Feminism. Feminism in other countries is going to differ greatly from the feminism that we experience here in the global west. Another important distinction we must make is what type of feminism we are discussing, and, in this instance, it is mainstream Liberal Feminism. On paper, this form aims to achieve gender equality through political reforms that fall within the liberal framework. However, this aim has become skewed as we continue to progress in a capitalist and patriarchal society. It has become lost to the ‘Girl Boss’ and ‘SheEO’ narrative that perpetuates the idea that women in high-level positions are evidence of progress but how can this be true if said woman is CEO of a fast fashion company that underpays its workers? Or the vice president of a make-up brand that doesn’t cater to dark skinned consumers? Or even a female MP that votes against legal at home abortions? In this case, only a small, selective group of women are able to follow you through this broken glass ceiling. 

Admittedly, I myself have felt like there was no place for me in Liberal Feminism. And I was right. As a Black woman, I have experienced first-hand how the breath in my voice holds less weight, less importance than my White counterparts. Instead of waiting to be heard by deaf ears, I spoke to those who could really hear me. I was not the first nor the last to do this. 

Out of this desire to be heard, I first came across Black Feminism. Black Feminism was born from the American Black Women’s movement of 1843-1923. However, it has existed since slavery times; before we even spoke the language to call it ‘Feminism’. These Black women of the 19th century were in a unique position. They had to create their own space in both a male dominated civil rights movement and a White women’s suffrage movement. In turn, creating a new form of feminism: Black Feminism. This ideology focuses on Black women and their experience of racism, sexism, and class discrimination. Keeanga- Yamahtta Taylor describes it as a theory based off of the concept that ‘Black women are inherently valuable.’ While this ideology originated in America, it quickly spread across the pond to The United Kingdom and other parts of Europe inspiring many sisters of the diaspora. 

Black British Feminism gained popularity with the arrival of the Windrush Generation. This influx of Black Caribbean’s revealed the racism that was rife in White British culture. Similarly with the American Black Women’s movement, British Black Women found themselves pushed to the margins in conversations surrounding race equality and gender equality. Organisations such as OWAAD (The Organisation of Women of African and Asian Descent) gave Black Women, and other women of colour, a place where their sisterhood was appreciated. Black Feminists were, and are, intersectional before intersectional feminism was even a coined term. They had to be. Many of these women were queer, working class, disabled, or held multiple political ideologies. For example – Audre Lorde, a self-described Black lesbian, mother, warrior, poet – was an advocate for racial equality, gender equality, breast cancer awareness and LGBT rights because that was just her reality. As well as, Olive Morris, a British Black Panther member, Marxist Leninist communist and radical feminist who dedicated much of her time to working within her community. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line, newer generations of feminists have forgotten about the vital contributions of Black Feminists. We have forgotten their names. 

Compared to Black Feminism, Womanism has a much shorter history. Womanism was first coined by Alice Walker in 1979. This social theory acknowledges Black women’s natural contribution and stresses the importance of gender and culture. Since its conception theory has evolved over the years. Some Womanists incorporate the lost spiritual connection that ethnic minorities have with their ancestral belief systems to rectify that broken bond to connect humans with the spiritual dimension. Understandably, Womanist theory has a lot to offer and attracts a lot of modern Black women, especially women of the diaspora. With the complicated history that Black Women have with Feminism, some choose to distance themselves completely from that label. Many of us can only go so far into our histories and have strained ties with our ancestral cultures. Therefore, we may grasp at something that not only allows us to regain our spiritual ties but also give us the space to explore new possibilities. In a fast-paced world with constant change, why would we choose to follow dated ideologies? Or stick to a single one at all? 

Unlike Black Feminism, Womanism has been extended to other ethnic minorities. South Asian and Filipino women have been known to identify as Womanists since they also face a similar discrimination in White feminist spaces. It is interesting that an ideology is evolving to welcome other women of colour. This contributes to bridging gaps between ethnic minority communities, proving that we have more in common than we may think. Walker also stated that this ideology can be adopted by Black men too as many of the systems which oppress Black women also oppress Black men whether they realise it or not. 

So, am I making the case for Womanism or Black Feminism? Well, both. They should be seen as Sister Ideologies. Born of the same wants and needs but still with their differences. Womanist ideology was never made to oppose feminism. In fact, Walker says that ‘Womanist is to Feminist as purple is to lavender’ meaning that we are one in the same. Womanism wouldn’t exist without Black Feminism. There are women that identify as both. We shouldn’t use one of these theories to discredit the other. Both Black Feminists and Womanists are crucial to the ongoing liberation of Black women across the diaspora. 

Regardless of which ideology you personally identify with, history has shown us that at the root, Black Sisterhood is vital.