Progressive thinking often overlooks the realities of poverty.Mikki Kendall (born October 23, 1976) is an author, activist, and cultural critic. Feminism must start truly supporting women of color – it’s the only way to work toward true equity. Solidarity can’t just be for, and among, white women.
But it was typical of the way in which white feminism often expects solidarity to travel in only one direction. The reality, of course, is that marginalized groups still face huge amounts of discrimination, and for Arquette to ask for their solidarity was not a good look. But she specifically asked for support from, in her words, “all the gay people and people of color that we’ve all fought for” – as if their rights were already assured beyond a doubt. She called for equal pay for women – a worthy feminist cause, for sure. In short, there’s far too little understanding of what life is like for women who are not privileged.Īt the 2015 Academy Awards, Patricia Arquette won Best Supporting Actress, but it was her acceptance speech that made the biggest headlines.
The same goes for education, and even something as basic as food provision. For instance, while specific issues like reproductive rights are usually on the feminist agenda, overall health care often isn’t.
For her, this was a way to stay safe in a world where she faced discrimination not just for being a woman, but also for being Black.Ī lot of issues that remain central for many women of color still tend to get overlooked by feminism. For instance, she held tight to the ideal of being traditionally ladylike. Kendall’s grandmother wasn’t always in step with mainstream feminist thinking. The key message here is: Too often, feminism is for white women, and not for minorities. Her brand of feminism, which inspired Kendall herself, was centered around the issues that truly mattered to her.
In fact, Kendall’s grandmother was not a fan of a lot of what feminists had to say. But domestic work, which was badly paid and sometimes unsafe, had never been in short supply. When it first emerged, the feminist movement was dependent on people like the author’s grandmother, who covered housekeeping tasks when white women decided to go outside the home to work. Was she a feminist? She wouldn’t have called herself one. Kendall’s grandmother worked hard throughout her life – at first to earn money, and later around the home as she raised her children. Dropping out of school was never an option, and college was encouraged, too. Author Mikki Kendall’s grandmother was born in 1924, and insisted that her four daughters get a decent education.
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