March 12th, 2007
new in the archive today
Making Separatist Connections: ‘The Issue is Woman Identification’ by Margaret Sloan-Hunter:
I am reminded of an incident in Chicago during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. A meeting had been announced to deal with Black Power, and it was understood by most that it was for blacks only. But a black woman showed up with her white man friend. A black woman felt extremely threatened by this and spoke up. Debates over ‘what harm can one white do?’ etc. went on for a few minutes. Then the woman stood up and shouted, somewhat frustrated: ‘You don’t understand. I am uncomfortable with his presence. I don’t even know him, but I don’t want him here.’ At which point the black woman who had brought the white man turned to him and said, ‘I’m sorry, you will have to leave; if one sister is uncomfortable, that is enough.’ He left.
When those kinds of priorities are placed on us by ourselves and we put ourselves as women first above everyone else, then the racist and sexist society will know we mean business. After all, it is we who are changing the world.
A Black Separatist by Anna Lee:
To state all this is to begin to raise necessary considerations concerning ethical stances. For example, I still feel alienated from the black male nationalist community because I am a lesbian, and yet I understand that our struggles are intimately intertwined. At the same time, I often feel alienated by the white feminist community which has the privilege to ignore and to minimize racism. White feminists can demand my support, presence and energy without seeing what it is they are asking of me. They can refuse to acknowledge the price I pay: the losing of my protection as limited and limiting as it is. My blackness is visible and the first line of attack on me. I am also a womon and choose to continue my struggle within the wimmin’s ommunity. I have stopped struggling with my brothers around their homophobia and sexism.
