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Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot,
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Emily Kelley-Lau
I think Kendall focuses most of her attention on the experience of black women, and draws on a lot of first-hand knowledge and memories from her own life. But she does also discuss statistics relating to women on the LGBTQIA spectrum and Indigenous women, and how those identities might/can/do play into oppression/lack of privilege. She talks a lot about how frustrating it is to have privileged people who don’t understand what it’s like to live as her judging her life and choices, so I think she’s probably trying to veer away from assuming anything about others. This quote sums it up: “I would certainly never presume to speak for other communities, but I think there are some areas where our concerns overlap” (p254 in my edition). Hope that helps!
PS I personally thought it was brilliant! She definitely helped me see new spaces of intersection that I hadn’t ever had to think about before.
PS I personally thought it was brilliant! She definitely helped me see new spaces of intersection that I hadn’t ever had to think about before.
Douglas
Mikki Kendall writes from a very personal viewpoint. The book has several sources listed at the end but these are in the form of a bibliography, not citations, so it is hard to know what she used from them.
The book does mention the problems of people who are not black, even including the very similar problems of poor white people. At times she also discusses the issues experience by black men too but in general it is Mikki's own personal viewpoint, tainted by her ideology so that although she complains and blames feminism for much of the problems she discusses, she nevertheless puts forward feminist theories and promotes even more feminism.
I had hoped for something rather more bold, particularly from one who clearly feels—as many women do—that feminism has let her down. Sadly, I don't think this book will help even black women, let alone women of other ethnicities.
The book does mention the problems of people who are not black, even including the very similar problems of poor white people. At times she also discusses the issues experience by black men too but in general it is Mikki's own personal viewpoint, tainted by her ideology so that although she complains and blames feminism for much of the problems she discusses, she nevertheless puts forward feminist theories and promotes even more feminism.
I had hoped for something rather more bold, particularly from one who clearly feels—as many women do—that feminism has let her down. Sadly, I don't think this book will help even black women, let alone women of other ethnicities.
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