Alex Deschamps

Women's Studies, 208 Bartlett, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. 01003
Office: Bartlett 7B » Office Hours: Mo 1:00-4:00pm & By Appointment
Telephone: (413) 545-1958 » Fax: (413) 545-1500 » Email: afd@wost.umass.edu

Womensst 394H	Theorizing Black Feminisms	Spring 2003
	Tu & Th: 1:00-2:15pm at Bartlett 205

Description, Goals and Objectives

To understand Black Feminist thinking, it is important to explore the context out of which it emerges. We will analyze the evolution of Black Feminist consciousness and thought in the U.S. from the 1930s to contemporary time, since the struggle for black women's liberation which emerged in the mid-1960s is a construction of both intellectual and activist tradition during slavery and during the anti-slavery movement. This course will also be an interpretative analysis of the work and thought produced by a range of leading black women writers, scholars and intellectuals in everyday and alternative locations for knowledge production. For purposes of this course, Black Women encompasses all women of African descent/heritage.

   This seminar is designed to introduce to, and familiarize students with, the theoretical contributions of African American and African Diasporan feminists working in a variety of disciplinary fields. These women all rely upon the notion that issues of race, gender, sexuality and social class are central, rather than peripheral to any history, analysis or assessment of life. During the course we will outline the basic principles and practices of Black Feminism, contextualize the emergence of contemporary feminist work in historical perspective and also examine the written and spoken texts of nineteenth-century feminist foremothers. We will identify and characterize the major issues which black feminists address as well as the various forms of resistance to social structures. Black women will be viewed as producers of knowledge and as transforming agents. We will study the works and contributions of early feminists as well as later and contemporary scholars and activists.

   Once an understanding of black feminist traditions is established, we will revisit the question of Black Feminism, as well as the continuities and discontinuities in the various definitions and analyses as they have emerged over time. We will discuss the theoretical and methodological assumptions underlying the intellectual and political traditions upon which these scholars rely. And most importantly, the course will also explore (a) realistic obstacles Black women encounter; (b) ways in which Black women have (re)defined self and community; (c) building a community by explicating the interface between the feminist struggle of women of color in the U.S. and outside the U.S.; (d) examining feminist expressions in the African Diaspora; and (e) identifying ways in which we can serve as social change agents. Special attention will be given to linking Black Feminist thought and Black Feminist activism (theory and practice).

Requirements and Grading

• You are expected to complete your reading assignments. Preparation and participation are essential for maximizing learning and critical analysis. On Occasion, you will be asked to develop discussion questions based on the reading assignments. For a deeper exploration of the material discussed in class, you will be encouraged to facilitate a class discussion.
• Regular and consistent attendance is mandatory due to the participatory requirements and discussions of course material in class. In-class activities cannot be easily made up, therefore unexcused absences (3) and above will affect your final grade. (20%).
• Written assignments are to be submitted by the due dates as outlined in the syllabus. They must be typed double-spaced. Please note that mechanics of writing are important factors in your assignments. Three (3 pages) critical analysis papers. See guidelines below (30%).
• Biomythography. We will discuss guidelines for this in class. You will be required to write your biomythography (Audre Lorde) similar to writing the personal and the political but with focus on your identity and how that influences and determines your personal, social, and political thinking and decision making. You may also assume a different identity placing yourself in that particular social, cultural, and political world. (10%).
• Cultural Theoretical Critique (2). Current events in the lives of Black women: Keep a journal of observations of the representations of women of African descent in films, television, stage/drama, print media, in politics, in the international arena, and in the academy. These should be short - 1-2 pages - with a feminist theoretical analysis and a minimum of five entries. Be creative. (15%).
• There will be one (1) final project/research paper in this course. Guidelines and topics will be distributed and discussed. (25%).

Guidelines for Content and Critical Analysis Response Papers

Your discussion questions and occasional critical analysis/response papers are suggested as a way to promote critical thinking, to monitor comprehension of the readings, to challenge your own thinking, and to help you engage in intellectual and practical discussions. Suggestions for writing the papers include (a) choose two or three points to help focus your response or critique and (b) take risks and incorporate your ideas about the subject, but remember this is not only about your opinion. You must include content from the readings, you must comment on the contributions of the work, critically examine the "soundness" of the arguments, discuss insights gained or limitations to the analysis. Essentially, I want to know that you have read, understood, and analyzed the readings. Grades will be based on the quality and clarity of your arguments as well as the organization of your ideas.

Academic Honesty and Other Undergraduate Policies

My assumption is that students are generally honest. You are responsible for knowing and following the University of Massachusetts Academic Guidelines. Please read and familiarize yourselves with the University Policy Statement on Academic Honesty, Course Requirements, Attendance, Religious Observances, and other relevant policies, in the Undergraduate Rights and Responsibilities Booklet or at website www.umass.edu/umhome/policies/honesty.html. Necessary action, in compliance with official guidelines, will be taken against students who commit academic dishonesty. Caucus with me about resources for learning needs.

Required Books

Katie Geneva Cannon:

Kate's Canon: Womanism and the Soul of the Black Community. Continuum, New York, 1996.

Patricia Hill Collins:

Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment. New York: Routledge, 2000.

Audre Lorde:

Sister Outsider. CA.: The Crossing Press, 1996.

Margo V. Perkins:

Autobiography as Activism: Three Black Women of the Sixties. Mississippi: University Press, 2000.

Kimberly Springer:

Still Lifting, Still Climbing: African Women's Contemporary Activism. New York University Press, 1999.

E. Frances White:

Dark Continent of Our Bodies: Black Feminism and the Politics of Respectability. Temple University Press, 2001.

Handouts and other assigned readings

Books are available at Food For Thought Bookshop, North Pleasant Street, Amherst and also on reserve in the library.

Recommended Books

Angela Davis:

Blues, Legacies & Black Feminims. New York: Pantheon Books, 1998.

Beverly Guy-Scheftal:

Words of Fire. New York: The New Press, 1995.

bell hooks:

Feminism is for Everybody. Cambridge, MA: South End Press, 2000.

bell hooks:

Ain't I A Woman. South End Press, 1981.

bell hooks:

Feminist Theory: Margin to Center. South End Press, 1984.

The above texts are on reserve in the Library and are highly recommended for additional analysis and assignments.

Tue January 28 Black Feminisms: Definitions, Objectives, Frameworks Introductory Exercises, Syllabus, Goals, Expectations, Definitions

Thu January 30 Lifting as We Climb: Early Expressions of Black Feminism Readings: [Handout]-Maria W. Stewart, "Religion and the Pure Principles of Morality, the Sure Foundation of Which We must Build, and Lecture Delivered at Franklin Hall", (Guy-Scheftall), pp. 23-33. [Handout]-Ana Julia Cooper, "The Status of Women in America", (Guy-Scheftall), pp. 43-49.

Black Women (Re) Naming, (Re) Writing, (Re) Claiming Feminism

Tue February 04 Black Women Claiming Space: Contributions to the Rhetoric Readings: [Text]-Patricia Hill Collins, Part 1, "The Social Construction of Black Feminist Thought", Chapters 1 & 2. [Text]-E. Frances White, "Black Feminist Interventions", pp. 25-80. [Handout]-Michael Awkard, "A Black Man's Place in Black Feminist Criticism", (The Black Feminist Reader), pp. 88-108.

Thu February 06 Black Feminist Theory as an Epistemic Site Readings: [Text]-Patricia Hill Collins, Part 2, "Core Themes in Black Feminist Thought", Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6. ***Critical Analysis Paper 1 Due***

Intersectionalities, Interdisciplinaries, Conflicts, and Tensions: Always, Race, Class, Gender, Sexuality and More

Tue February 11 Conversations: Social Construction of Whiteness & Theorizing Black Feminisms. Video Screening: Stuart Hall - Race, A Floating Signifier Readings: [Handout]-Barbara Christian, "The Race For Theory", (The Black Feminist Reader), pp. 11-22. ***Critical Autobiography Paper Due***

Thu February 13 Not Just Race, Not Just Gender Readings: [Text]-Patricia Hill Collins, Part 2, "Core Themes in Black Feminist Thought", Chapters 7, 8, 9.

Tue February 18 No Class-Monday's Schedule

Thu February 20 Sexuality, Historicities, Identities: Refuting Black Women as Spectacle Video Screening: The Hottentot Venus Readings: [Text]-E. Frances White, "The Evidence of Things Not Seen: The Alchemy of Racer and Sexuality", pp. 81-114. [Handout]-Anne Fausto-Sterling, "Gender, Race, Nation. The Comparative Anatomy of "Hottentot" Women in Europe" 1815-1817, in J. Terry & J. Urla (Eds.), Deviant Bodies, 1995, Indiana University Press, pp. 19-48.

Tue February 25 Community Silences and Tensions: (Re) Framing Race and Sexuality: Black Feminist Expansions and Queer Theory Readings: [Text]-E. Frances White, pp. 151-182. [Handout]-Paula Giddings, "The Last Taboo", (Guy-Sheftall), pp. 414-428. ***Critical Analysis Paper 2 Due***

Thu February 27 Sisterhood(s)? Readings: [Text]-Audre Lorde, pp. 13-109.

Tue March 04 Sisterhood(s)? Readings: [Text]-Audre Lorde, pp. 110-189.

Thu March 06 Sisterhood(s)-Dialogues and Conversations. Small Group and Roundtable Discussions

Tue March 11 Writing the Personal, Writing the Political Readings: [Text]-Margo V. Perkins, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4.

Thu March 13 Writing the Personal, Writing the Political: Biomythography Readings: [Text]-Margo V. Perkins, Chapters 5, 6. ***In-Class Assignments***

March 15-23 Spring Break Recess

Black Feminism/Womanism, Liberation Theology and Praxis

Tue March 25 Womanist Norms for Emancipatory Praxis Readings: [Text]-Katie Geneva Cannon, Chapters 1-7. ***Biomythography Paper Due***

Thu March 27 Thinking Through Theological Conformity and Liberation Theology Readings: [Text]-Katie Geneva Cannon, Chapters 8-13.

Tue April 01 Theory Outside the Box. Guest Lecture

Thu April 03 Theorizing Blues, Legacies and Contemporary Black Music Readings: Selections From Angela Davis, "Blues, Legacies and Black Feminism".

Tue April 08 Conversations: Social Construction of Whiteness & Theorizing Black Feminisms Video Screening: Spike Lee's Bamboozled Readings: [Handout]-D. Wellman, "Minstrel Shows, Affirmative Action Talk, and Angry White Men: Marking Racial Otherness in the 1990s", in R. Frankenberg, Displacing Whiteness, 1997. Duke University Press, pp. 311-331. [Handout]-Susan Gubar, "Spirit Murder at the Movies", 1997. Oxford University Press, pp. 53-94. ***Critical Analysis Paper 3 Due***

Still Lifting, Still Climbing, and then Some

Thu April 10 African American Women's Political Voice Readings: [Text]-Kimberly Springer, Part One, Chapters 1, 2, 3.

Tue April 15 The Continuous Struggle Readings: [Text]-Kimberly Springer, Part Two, Selections From Chapters 4-9.

Thu April 17 Contemporary African Women's Activism Readings: [Text]-Kimberly Springer, Part Three, pp. 189-273.

Tue April 22 Contemporary African Women's Activism Readings: [Text]-Kimberly Springer, Part Three, pp. 275-339.

Thu April 24 A New Generation of Activism: Further to Fly Panel Discussion - Women of Color Leadership Network ***Cultural Theoretical Critique Due***

Tue April 29 Counter Discourses: Nation and Nationalism Readings: [Text]-E. Frances White, "Africa On My Mind. Gender, Counterdiscourse and African American Nationalism", pp. 117-150. [Text]-Kimberly Springer, "Engendering the Pan-African Movement: Field Notes from the All-African Women's Revolutionary Union" by M. Bahati Kuumba, pp. 167-184. [Handout]-Rosalyn Terborg-Penn, "African Feminism: A Theoretical Approach to the History of Women in the African Diaspora".

Thu May 01 Knowledge as Power Readings: [Text]-Patricia Hill Collins, pp. 227-290.

Tue May 06 Conversations: Social Construction of Whiteness & Theorizing Black Feminisms Readings: [Handout ]-Nellie Y. McKay, "Acknowledging Differences: Can Women Find Unity Through Diversity?", (James & Busia), pp. 267-282.

Thu May 08 Synthesis and Summaries. In Class Exercises/Discussions/Presentations

Tue May 13 Synthesis and Summaries ***Final Assignment Due***