Diaries by African American women envision a dream of a Black future, even as they teach vivid lessons from history.
He said he had never met any one like me before.Many prominent authors whose essays, memoirs and poetry appear on the most popular Black History Month and anti-racist book lists also kept diaries. Ida B. Wells, Audre Lorde and Barbara Smith are some of the many Black Americans who have published partial or entire diaries. But list-makers tend to give priority to their more public writings, or to biographies that others write about them.
Just like modern justice seekers who encounter setbacks both enormous and state-sanctioned, Forten grapples with the realization that American judiciaries and law enforcement are structurally unjust. She observes church leaders rationalizing slavery, and notes that such rhetoric is not limited to the slave-holding South.
In her diary, we also follow Wells to Europe, where she takes part in international dialogue and alliances around support for the abolition of slavery. We can see that when BLM leaders take their movement to a global level, it echoes a strategy used in earlier times. Hosts and fellow passengers would often ask about her nationality and background, seeking to label her with one stereotype or another—Jew, Arab, Cuban and more—as she traveled across the world. But Harrison compelled her questioners to check their assumptions as she offered playful or evasive responses, extracted survival tips for her new environment, and struck back with open curiosity about their own beliefs and customs.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Black History Month: MFAH celebrates films by Black women this weekendThe Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Black History Month film series, 'Through the Lens of African-American Women,' runs Friday through Sunday.
Read more »
'They Made History': Ms. Magazine's Fave Features of Strong Black Women Over the YearsAs Ms. turns 50, we are looking back at the life and legacy of some of the history-making Black feminists who have been featured on the magazine’s covers and in its pages over the years.
Read more »
New campaign aims to raise awareness of breast cancer risks in Black womenFebruary Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A new campaign is aiming to raise awareness about breast cancer risks in Black women.
Read more »
City Winery to Host Fundraiser & Performances for Black History Month & Women’s History MonthCity Winery will host its inaugural two-month long initiatives titled “Still I Rise” in celebration of Black History Month and “Fierce Light” honoring women and gender justice.
Read more »
FOX’s ‘Next Level Chef’ judge hopes to inspire more Black women to follow her path“When you can have people of color behind the screen and in front of the screen, it makes for much more authentic storytelling,” Nyesha Arrington said.
Read more »
Qualeasha Wood Is Turning the Consumption of Black Women Online into Art'Being on the Internet so much, I forgot how to honestly behave like a person in real life at a certain point. I think at a certain point, everything that mattered to me was online.” Learn more
Read more »