Anti-Blackness and the Concept of Womanhood; Black Lives Matter and Pride

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1. Sojourner Truth says:
That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mudpuddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?
How does anti-blackness intersect with the concept of womanhood? Using examples from course material and ideas from class discussion, describe how sexism and racism shaped the idea of Black womanhood in North America? (200-300 words max)
The term “intersectionality” was coined by Black legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. However, elements of intersectionality” were first recognized in Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech that presented how oppressions related to race and gender combine to produce injustice. Anti-blackness intersects with the concept of womanhood by presenting how discrimination against Black women occurs in ways that do not fit the legal and usual definition of racism or sexism. Generally, the legal system defines sexism based upon injustices experienced by all women (including white). Similarly, racism is defined as anti-blackness hate faced by all Blacks and people of color (including Black men). As a result, Black women are not considered when addressing issues related to sexism and racism because the focus has been placed on the experiences of white women and Black men (Black Women Often). These definitions combined with intersectionality render Black women “invisible” and without any form of legal recourse. For instance, despite all women being considered as fragile, Black women are assigned heavy chores and responsibilities at the workplace. Similarly, despite the assumption that good mothers should stay at home and care for children, Black women are forced to find jobs and take their children to care facilities. Therefore, discrepancies in how sexism and racism issues are addressed have normalized discrimination against Black women in North America.
2. Why did the Black Lives Matter movement choose to occupy Pride? How is Pride connected to Black History? (200-300 words max)
Generally, Pride supports communities and individual people in the pursuit of their indisputable rights to be heard, known, understood, and be accepted for who they are. However, its activities are mostly related to the notion that “people are free to discover and love as our true selves.” This notion has been perceived as an emphasis on other minority groups but Black people. Furthermore, there were concerns about Pride’s funding and support for Pride programs run for and by black folks (Strapagiel). As a result, Black Lives Matter occupied Pride because they wanted Black people and essential Pride Programs to be recognized, es...