journel

The journal will be a way for each student to reflect on the course, the world around them, and the connections between it all.   Journal check-ins will give students an opportunity to reflect on what they are learning, reading, and experiencing while taking the course.

Journals can include, but are not limited to, thoughts about lectures, class discussions, readings, learning materials, society, and any other important events or issues concerning the subject matter of the course.  

Journal entries can consist of writings, doodles, drawings, rants, poems/spoken words, lyrics, collages, or any other forms of expression.

There must be at least one entry that is written and addressing what you are learning and experiencing during the course.

If you are keeping an actual journal, you may upload a PDF of your journal

Journel 1

‘Words of fire’ presents a situation that had been the case since the advent of ill-treatment of women in the world. The authors of the collection of articles bring forward the unfortunate state of affairs for women in times before the late nineteenth century. The message is bound to get to the contemporary world, reminding us of historical mistakes we should avoid slipping back to. The piece of writing was done in the middle of the nineteenth century. To say the least, during the historical times mentioned in the writing, women were subjected to all manner of torture ranging from physical abuse to psychological by being subjected to disturbing experienced and being often reminded that they are second class citizens.

The authors focus on the problem of social inequality, where despite the achievements of feministic advocacy groups, black women still bore the blunt side of discrimination in the face a changing world. This is even made worse by the fact that their white counterparts had begun getting fair treatment in the social realm. The problem the authors present relates to women and all those who were disturbed by the unfortunate fate facing omen. The authors target the modern women, the government and other policy-making bodies as well as academicians who would use the text to interpret contemporary phenomena. The authors cite the interference of the reproductive lives of slave women while working in their masters’ plantations, the discrimination of black women in securing employment opportunities as well as the disregard for their womanhood even by assuming that the rights of the blacks were enough to cater for the women in the then society.

This reading made me understand with great depth the horrifying things I have heard of the whites towards the blacks. In fact, I have realized the mistake the world made when it generalized the rights of the black women and by equating them to the rights of the slaves. A black woman was expected to rise in equal competition with a black man under the then ‘superior white race’.  I would, however, have wished to have the reactions of the white race dominated regime by then only to understand the level of contempt and inhumanity that the whites had towards the black race. Secondly, I would request the authors to state facts as they were and avoid using more civil language in describing the experiences. This would make, we, the readers have a vivid picture of what transpired and feel with the authors.

There before, I did not realize that the world’s end of slavery was not just enough and that we needed to do more, help the black woman to rise past the limitations subjected to her by her circumstance. Secondly, did not have the accurate picture of the ills that were subjected to women in these times, I had a shallow understanding that had no details like those that are provided in the reading. These new revelations are as a result of the inadequacies of the majority of the existing literature and the notion that blacks demand too much having done too little. This reading helps one develop a clearer understanding of social injustices in the historical context by providing tangible evidences.

Reference

Guy-Sheftall, B. (1995). Words of fire: An anthology of African-American feminist thought. The New Press.

Journel 2

The reading is about the life of black Americans women who have to relentlessly been fighting for the equity of their rights and those of their fellows being underrated. The reading exposes the hard life black women go through and how they have struggled to get themselves out of the mess. The reading shows the glance back of the black women’s activist who has outlined the course for contemporary women’s advancement.  Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, Ruth Ellis, Nina Simone, etc. are some of the black women’s activist.  Black American scholars have stood strong in condemning discrimination based on their race and have managed to create a special branch of equity among the American population in the United States. Discrimination motivated by race, sex, and social classes have been a headache to the American communities. The readings talk about liberations times when America was subjected to oppression and sexual segregations.

There are several issued highlighted both problems and issues. The challenges the blacks face due to their race are too harsh to be born. Discriminations including poor pay, hard labor, poor medical services are a biting problem to them.  There is also a challenge to the feminism community who face discrimination segregation because of their race and the color of the skin. Women feel discriminated in several sections of their day to day life which discourage them in pursuing other activities because of fear. The readings are generally a collection of different great works by great American people about the life of the feminine.

From a personal perspective, the readings are a great boost and clear depiction of wones fight for liberation and equal rights in American society. They have managed to secure top positions in the American political and other sections of public service. The move taken by the feminist to express their hardship and also expose the challenges they have been through creates an important part of their history and the history of America. However, it’s quite understandable how women decided and managed to create the feminism image about themselves and on their own. But even though they try to manage that, they are as well affected internally that yields to depression among others.

This reading has posed a great challenge to me about my little knowledge on the fight for women inclusivity in American institutions of leadership and the reasons for American global development record. It is because developments being at the family level, whose backbone is the women. The readings are based on what happens in our immediate environment and the forces of nature surrounding us in the immediate environment and the whole world.

 References

Crosley, H. (2019). Black Feminists: Our Feisty History. [online] Theroot.com. Available at: https://www.theroot.com/black-feminists-our-feisty-history-1790868241 [Accessed 29 Apr. 2019].

Ida B. Wells: A passion for justice [Video file]. (1989). Retrieved April 29, 2019, from https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=237302&xtid=57863

Journel 3

Feminism is one of the topics of interest to most of the women. This is due to the fact that it tries as much as possible to be on the side of women and make sure that their needs are catered for and their rights respected (Case, 2014). It needs courage for women to come out and ensure that their rights are respected and that they are given a chance and opportunity to explore and use their talents for the good of the community.  Women have talents and most of them can do what men are able to do only if they are given a chance to venture and access the right resources. Most of the occurrences on black women being denied opportunities to explore their fields of interest or even perform in important activities such as elections or even taking prestigious jobs was during the 18thand the 19th century (Creed, 2015).

Most of the black kids and even adults have been having a challenge into exploiting their talents and using what they have for the good of those around them. Most of the white people think that they are not normal human beings like them. They take them to be like animals and a burden to society. Black women living in the United States have had to fight tough battles to show what they are able to do for the country. Most of them are fighting with racism and sexism at the same time. Due to this, it has made most of the black women to believe that they lack potential and in any case, they do not deserve receiving an equal opportunity like the rest of the people. Black women deserve a chance, they also need to be allowed to work in prestigious jobs, attend colleges and schools to receive the required education and thus, in the end, be of use to the country state at large.

In the 20th century due to sensitization and demonstrations, African women have been given a chance to explore their talents and show out to people what they can do. For example, some of the black women who have emerged to be extraordinary include Lupita Nyongo and Chimamanda. These are just but a few among other ladies who have demonstrated to their white counterparts that it is possible to be the best and to do what other people who are not of their race can do. When a black woman or person decides to uphold his or her culture it does not mean in any way that he or she does not respect the white culture. In artwork, some of the individuals have been able to integrate the white culture and the black culture which has enabled unity and integration among the African Americans. This means that every culture is important toward the building of a strong and an economically stable state.

After reading through the provided readings I have come to a realization that African women can do a lot and can be better when it comes to talent oriented activities and passionate activities when given an opportunity and a chance to do their best. Racism and sexism is the number one killer of progress in a country that is made up of diverse communities and races.

 References

Case, S. E. (2014). Feminism and theatre. Routledge.

Creed, B. (2015). The monstrous-feminine: Film, feminism, psychoanalysis. Routledge.