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I am interested in researching the womanist movement and other aspects of black feminist thoughts, theory, history and action. I have had very little luck locating sites on the web that offer info on this topic—most of them have been removed. I'd love any help you could give me. I look forward to hearing from you —Katey
In response to your inquiry about "womanism" I am going to defer to Gloria Steinem, who wrote the attached piece for a "women's encyclopedia" to be published next year. I think it gives an excellent historical perspective of womanism. For more on this topic, I would check out writings by Barbara Smith (editor of the Kitchen Table/Women of Color Press) and bell hooks. I know that their work also offers more on the subject, as does anything by Alice Walker.

I don't know what's out on there on the web, but check out New York On-Line. A few months back there were a group of young black women who were hosting chats every now and then.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

"Womanist and womanism are populist and poetic synonyms for black feminist and black feminism. They were coined in 1983 by Alice Walker -- African American novelist, poet, essayist, and activist -- in her collection of essays, In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens: Womanist Prose.

As Walker explained to The New York Times Magazine in 1984, "I don't choose womanism because it is 'better' than feminism...Since womanism means black feminism, this would be a non-sensical distinction. I choose it because I prefer the sound, the feel, the fit of it; because I cherish the spirit of the women (like Sojourner) the word calls to mind, and because I share the old ethnic-American habit of offering society a new word when the old word it is using fails to describe behavior and change that only a new word can help it more fully see."

Womanism brings a racialized and often class-located experience to the gendered experience suggested by feminism. It also relects a link with history that includes African cultural heritage, enslavement, women's culture, and a kinship with other women, especially women of color. As Walker also told the Times, "Feminism (all colors) definitely teaches women they are capable, one reason for its universal appeal. In addition to this, womanist (i.e. black feminist) tradition assumes, because of our experiences during slavery, that black women are capable." Her original definition made clear that a womanist included any, "feminist of color... Also: A woman who loves other women, sexually and/or nonsexually. Appreciates and prefers women's culture, women's emotional flexibility (values tears as natural counterbalance of laughter), and women's strength. Sometimes loves individual men, sexually and/or non-sexually. Committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female. Not a separatist, except periodically, for health. Traditionally universalist... Loves music. Loves dance. Loves the moon. Loves the Spirit. Loves love and food and roundness. Loves struggle. Loves the Folk. Loves herself. Regardless."

Womanist and womanism were soon adopted by, and often used in description of, African American women's struggle for self-determination and community, past and present. Welcomed by some for having a stronger sound than feminist, which shares the root of feminine -- as Walker put it in 1983, "Womanist is to feminist as purple to lavender" -- womanist and womanism helped give visibility to the experience of African American and other women of color who have always been on the forefront of movements to overthrow the sexual and racial caste systems, yet who have often been marginalized or rendered invisible in history texts, the media, and mainstream movements led by European American feminists or male civil rights leaders. Unlike feminist and pro-feminist, however, the definition of womanist has yet to be extended to men who are also working for women's empowerment, and that has been a source of reluctance to use it. Others prefer black feminism because retaining the adjective makes racial experience more visible, and because failing to use the more familiar noun might be seen as deserting some of its basic beliefs and/or controversies; for instance, the false notion that feminism is synonomous with lesbianism, as opposed to including all females.

Nonetheless, the definition of these words by a poet gave them a joy, energy, and nuance that invited their use. As Walker explained in an interview for this article: "Womanist literally includes man within it, just as an embryo is enclosed by a woman's body; it's a matter of whether or not a man can deal with that. Furthermore, I dislike having to add a color in order to become visible -- a white feminist doesn't have to say white feminist." Her 1983 definition of womanist included such qualities as, "Wanting to know more and in greater depth that is considered 'good' for one. Interested in grown up doings. Acting grown up. Being grown up. Interchangeable with another black folk expression: 'You trying to be grown.' Responsible. In charge. Serious." She also traced its populist origins to, "the black folk expression of mothers to female children, 'You acting womanish,' i.e., like a woman. Usually referring to outrageous, audacious, courageous or willful behavior...as in: 'Mama, I'm walking to Canada and I'm taking you and a bunch of other slaves with me.' Reply: 'It wouldn't be the first time.'"

Incorporated into courses in Women's Studies and Black Studies, as well as into common usage by readers of Walker's writing, these words were soon being added to self-descriptions: for example, a growing number of historians felt better described as womanist historians, religious scholars called themselves womanist theologians, activists felt more included and inclusive by talking about womanist theory, and critics traced a womanist creative tradition, from modern films like "Daughters of the Dust" to quilts made by anonymous black women artists during slavery; from the timely references in Emma Amos's paintings to timeless patterns in Ndebele women's murals.

In 1993, The American Heritage Dictionary included this new usage, and defined womanist as: "Having or expressing a belief in or respect for women and their talents and abilities beyond the boundaries of race and class; exhibiting a feminism that is inclusive esp. of Black American culture. -- n. One informed by womanist ideals. --wom an ism n." Considering the traditional definitions in such classic sources as the Oxford English Dictionary -- which illustrated womanish with the phrase, "a womanish and a whorist government," and cited womanist as a rare synonym for "womanizer,"--this recognition of change in the language was no small achievement.

As Alice Walker made clear, womanist and womanism were not intended to define more narrowly or to criticize existing terms, but to shed light on women's experience by increasing the number and richness of words describing it." —Gloria Steinem

Amy

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