Unit 4: Modern Black Politics, Feminism, and Social Justice

Black Feminism

A movement that centers the specific historical and social experiences of Black African American women and asserts that the liberation of Black women entails the liberation of all people.

Combahee River Collective

A group of Black feminists formed in 1974 known for their foundational statement on Black feminist thought.

Interlocking Oppressions

The concept that race, class, and gender oppression are not separate issues but work together to affect the condition of Black women's lives.

Identity Politics

A term coined by the Combahee River Collective, emphasizing that radical politics should arise from one's own identity.

Intersectionality

A framework coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, which examines how various forms of inequality operate together and exacerbate each other.

Traffic Intersection Analogy

Crenshaw's analogy describing how discrimination can arise from multiple sources, similar to traffic intersecting at a crossroads.

Womanism

A term introduced by Alice Walker in 1983 to distinguish Black women's activism from white feminism.

Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA)

Legislation aimed at overcoming legal barriers preventing African Americans from exercising their right to vote.

Shirley Chisholm

The first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1968, known for her slogan 'Unbought and Unbossed'.

Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)

Founded in 1971, it empowers Black members of Congress to advocate for legislative priorities affecting African Americans.

Barack Obama

The 44th President of the United States, whose election in 2008 marked a significant milestone in U.S. history.

Post-Racial Myth

The belief that America had entered an era of 'post-racialism' following Obama's election, disregarding ongoing systemic racism.

Shelby County v. Holder (2013)

A Supreme Court decision that struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, impacting voting rights for African Americans.

Voter ID laws

Laws implemented in many states following Shelby County v. Holder, often criticized for disproportionately affecting Black voters.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to dilute the voting power of particular demographic groups.

Black Lives Matter (BLM)

A global movement founded in 2013, advocating against police violence and systemic racism following the death of Trayvon Martin.

Decentralized Leadership

A leadership model used by BLM that operates through local chapters and collective participation rather than a central figure.

SayHerName

A campaign initiated to bring awareness to Black women and girls who are victims of police violence.

Michelle Alexander

Author of 'The New Jim Crow', which argues that the War on Drugs disproportionately targets Black men, leading to mass incarceration.

Prison Abolition

The movement advocating for the dismantling of prisons in favor of investing in community services as a response to systemic racism.

Reparations Debate

The discussion surrounding financial compensation for descendants of enslaved people, moving into mainstream political discourse.

H.R. 40

A bill in Congress proposing a commission to study and develop proposals for reparations for the descendants of enslaved individuals.

Racial Wealth Gap

The economic disparity resulting from historical injustices, including slavery and discriminatory policies like redlining.

Intersectionality vs. Diversity

Mistaking intersectionality for mere diversity; intersectionality analyses how systems of power affect those with multiple marginalized identities.

Post-Obama Racism

The misconception that racism significantly declined after Obama's election, ignoring the rise of opposition movements and voter suppression.

Misunderstanding BLM Leadership

Critiquing BLM for lacking leaders without understanding the intentional strategy of decentralized leadership.

Womanism vs. Black Feminism

The difference between Womanism, focusing on the community's wholeness, and Black Feminism, rooted in political analysis.