Homework 4

Response Paper

Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins

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Response Paper

Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins

Abstract

The paper has discussed the summary of the article by Collins, in which she talked about the rise of the black feminists and their thought. She has argued that the black feminists did not emerge overnight; however, it was the result of the years of their suffering and stigmatization. They proved their capabilities through their contribution to different fields of life. The relevancy, analysis, and critique section of the paper provide an insight into the article while eating it to the course contents.

Response Paper

Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins

Summary

The article “Excerpts from Black Feminist Thought” by Patricia Hill Collins has talked about the role and potion of the black women in society. The article has highlighted the fact that black women were portrayed as incapable and were confined to their homes. Even after the end of slavery, they have faced the negative attitude and stigmatization of society. Collins has argued in her article that the black women have always stood tall against the oppression and stigmatization of the white society. They did not let the society hold them back from achieving the appreciated statuses in society by challenging the status quo and striving hard to make their own position in the white dominant society. Black women were objectified and treated as mules, without being paid for their services. In addition to it, they had to face violence and abuse at the hands of their white masters. After all the struggle of making their place in the society, the black women and mothers strengthened their children by providing them education and teaching them to not stay silent towards the oppression and violence directed towards them. Finally, Collins has shared that the black women emerged as the powerful figures by sharing their experiences and stances through literature and fiction, which made it clear to the world that they are not incapable, but equally intelligent and competitive human beings, who deserve to be appreciated (Collins, 1990).

Relevancy

The article is related to the class lectures and text in the way that it has shed light on the struggle of the black feminists. The article also relates in the way that it highlights the black women rose to their position and status in the society by facing the violence, oppression, and humiliation of the society. The thought process of the black feminists is the result of their hardships and they have portrayed it through their literary works. They have educated their children and made them able to move in the society, without submitting to the oppression and stigmatization of the society which their mothers had faced. The article is also related to the text because it talks about the fight and determination of the black women do not submit to the derogatory standards of the society and make their position on the basis of their competencies (Collins, 1990).

Analysis

The article by Collins is related to the understanding of the society at the micro level in the way that it sheds light on the oppression and violence black women had to face in their households. They were treated as maids and mules, in addition to facing the abuse of their masters. The article also relates to the understanding of the society at the macro level by highlighting that all the black women had to face the same kind of struggle in the society and they were specifically deprived of recognition in the society. The article relates to the understanding of the society at the mezo level by highlighting the struggle of back women, belonging to all spheres and sections of the society.

Critique

The critique of the article is that it has perfectly shed light in the struggle for the black women to get their due recognition in the society. They faced oppression, violence, abuse, and humiliation, yet did not accept it. They rose as the authors, feminists, and activists and forced society to accept the fact that they are not lacking in any way and have the capabilities of making progress. The article did not lack anywhere and has perfectly shed light on the role of the black mothers in the upbringing of strong next generation (Collins, 1990).

Reference

Collins, P. H. (1990). Black feminist thought in the matrix of domination. Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment, 221-238.