Slavery and Black Women
Bell Hooks In her book “Ain’t I A Woman” intends to lay a foundation for her feminist theory by providing historical evidence of detailed sexism that black women slaves tolerated and how those experiences affect black women in the modern days. In the book, Hooks stated that “A devaluation of black womanhood occurred as a result of the sexual exploitation of black women during slavery that has altered in hundreds of years” (Hooks, 1981). The economics of slavery, which commodified human life, and encouraged raising enslaved individuals, promoted a regular practice of rape against black women. This system created a lasting social order founded on race and sex. Hooks chose Sojourner Truth’s quote as the title of her book because she evaluates the impacts of sexism and racism on black women, the civil rights and feminist movements.
Sojourner Truth is a prominent historical figure because she was actively involved in the antislavery movement as well as the women’s rights movement. At the Women’s Right Convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851, Truth delivers one of the most famous Women’s rights and Abolitionist speeches in history. During the Civil War, Truth assisted in recruiting black soldiers. She also worked for the National Freedman’s Relief Association and encouraged individuals to contribute food, clothes, and other necessities to black refugees. Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I A Woman” speech is significant because it addressed some of the most critical issues affecting American society (McQueen, 2015). Truth addressed some of the issues impacting America at the time, such as slavery, injustice, religion, and women and femininity.
In chapter one of her book, “Ain’t I a Woman? Bell Hooks encourages black women to embrace feminism as a philosophy. Hooks state that during slavery, black women salves faced the impact of misogyny because they were women and black and she says that, “Since the hatred of sexuality was implanted into American culture, the female became the source of lusts and threats to male morale” (Hooks, 1981) The necessities of racial imperialism prompted the formation of a cultural cult of true womanhood that stayed active in the 20th century. It portrayed the white woman as an excellent complement to the male. Black women became the opposite of ideal womanhood because they were a threat to sexual and racial imperialism. Thus, black women became vulnerable to different types of psychological, sexual, and physical abuse without any protection from white or black society.
Hook also discussed the stereotypes of black women, which originates from the combination of racism and sexism — these stereotypes which demonized survival hints back to slavery and the apartheid era of Jim Crow. Black women have received numerous attacks because of these stereotypes internalized in American society. Hook argues that “black nationalism aims at recreating racist patriarchy which black men at the highest level of the social hierarchy” (Hooks, 1981) The leadership of the black rights movements is still active within a male-controlled archetype which marginalizes black women. The author states how white, prominent women have hijacked the feminist movement. Therefore, they reintroduce stigmas and cultural differences within the movement. Hook advises black women not to abandon the feminist movement, and the racism within the movement should be fought against by committed black feminists.