å Monday, September 4th, 2017

In Chapter 3 of Women, Race & Class, Angela Davis makes special note of Frederick Douglass’s participation in galvanizing support for women’s suffrage within the fledgling women’s rights movement. While Douglass stood at the forefront of the Black Liberation Movement as a skilled orator and figure of renown and distinction, Douglass’s initial reluctance to support the cause of women’s suffrage—as demonstrated by the quote in which he cites “ ‘custom,’ ‘natural division of duties,’ [and the] ‘indelicacy of women taking part in politics’ ” as his “shallow plea” against the cause (Davis 54)—forces us to reconsider the sweeping assumption that the separate movements that pushed for a greater sense of equality within our country—such as abolitionism, black liberation, women’s liberation—always perceived solidarity and, in effect, each other as instrumental to the other’s liberation when oftentimes, the opposite was true.

While Douglass later defended that women’s suffrage was essential and necessary, his opinion was held only by a small yet vocal minority when considered within the larger consciousness of the white, upper-class women’s liberation movement. Such sentiments were echoed even at the Seneca Falls Convention, which we as Americans tend to consider the birthplace of women’s liberation in general. And perhaps most tellingly, although members of the Black Liberation Movement were among the first to voice their support for women’s suffrage, no evidence of a reciprocal solidarity was found within the women’s liberation movement, essentially shutting black women and even working class white women out of the conversation, at least based on the narrative Davis puts forward.

Bearing this in mind, I feel that, especially considering the social context of the 1970’s in which Davis created this text, Davis is presenting us with this narrative on the interaction of race, gender, and class to force a greater critical analysis on the ideologies of liberation movements and to remind us that short-sightedness, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness are not just follies of those who stand on the “wrong side of history” but that such fallacies are inherent even within those who agitate for greater social good.

In chapter 3 of “Women, Race and Class” by Angela Y. Davis states that how it was hard for black women even to raise a voice. First of all, there was a convention which was held in London, and this convention was for women’s right. Davis points out that the convention was significant because it was a convention about women’s right even though slavery system still existed at this time. However, it did not contribute for American women’s rights because American female activists were excluded by majority vote. Few years later, convention was held at Seneca Falls in New York. It obviously was for rights for women in United States; however, no black activists were allowed to join the convention except for a male activist. Even though it was a convention for female in United States, it wasn’t for black women. There even was no mention about rights of coloured women. Most of middle class white women were opposed for giving rights to black women because unlike lower class white females, they had social distance to black people, so they still had strong racist view to them. Davis thinks that middle class white women who had some power lacked to think about black women’s situation that they have been used for housing labor as slaves; furthermore, they had the problem being as a female, exact same struggle as the white females had. Black women at that time had a struggle as being women such as violence by men, and as african american, they had been discriminated. However, there was a man, Frederick Douglass, who was capable of introducing the issue of women’s rights to the movement of liberation of black people. He had a strong passion of claiming that because of the unfortunate experience of his sister as a black women. The movement of white women looks like an advanced thought, but they only thought about their racial and sexual group.

The women’s movement was an event that brought many people together, no matter the gender, class, or race. Just like Angela Davis dicussed in chapter 3, the movement was tested in so many levels but at the end it accpmplished a lot. Women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, proved that big issues like this affect everyone no matter their race or class. She had realized how women not only of color, but women in general had faced monumental challenges for many decades. She proved how just like men, women have the ability to fulfill any expectantions. Wether it was to be an exemplar mother or a lawyer, Staton defied the view society had at this time. She faced the same struggle every other women at the time faced. Being a fly on the wall, in a world dominated by man, made her and many others join the abolition movement. She helped women open their eyes and notice the similar situations they were all in, it was a wake up call for everyone to fight for equality. But not only were women in the movement, men were also trying to fight for equality. At this time, equality was a strange concept that was impossible to accomplish if society didn’t come together. Davis was trying to tell us that major issues regarding our basic human rights, will become e everyone’s issue sooner or later. We become all one, equality is something we all enjoy wethee it affects us directly or indirectly. As soon as equality becomes something believable for everyone, it will become a reality for all. Organized movements will always be the right weapon agaisnt any oppression figures or groups.  We must first become educated and use our intelect to fight agaisnt any injustice. Davis used Stanton to show how race, gender, and class are all connected in a harmonized way.

In chapter 3 of Women, Race & Class Angela Y. Davis throughly analyzes and critiques the women’s movement. Davis discusses the actions of Sojourner Truth at the 1851 women’s convention (1981:60). At this event Sojourner Truth reminds the white women that black women are exactly that – women. Throughout this movement, white women would  advocate for their middle-class obstacles. The middle class white women would often not work but would have the skills to do so as many had the privilege and access to education . Thus, the white women would promote the idea of having equal rights in order to work. Yet, doing so they ignored the already working class women who endured abhorrent working conditions and painfully long days (Davis, 1981:54). Moreover, they ignored the black women who for years have been working alongside men but were ignored because of race.

Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Women?” speech was an embodiment of the troubles within the movement. The speech itself was intended to unite black and white women as it reminded the listener that women for decades have worked without the help of men and furthermore bore children. Instead this address displayed the actions of the white women as Gage was told to not let her speak on the second day of the convention (Davis, 1981:63). Truth’s speech was intended to bring white women, black women, immigrant-working women together but she was met with negative response and backlash because of racism and classism. Nonetheless, Truth forced the white middle-class women to be uncomfortable and become aware that their beliefs have halted the great effort to become one and fight against white male supremacy.

The white women of the movement ignored the fight that the black women had to endure. They ignored the fight that the working class had to endure because they could not understand that they did not have money or education to fall back on. Davis wants us to be aware of the separation within a movement that was intended to unify.

In chapter three Davis tells us about the difficult journey of the women’s right movement. She compares gender, race, and class throughout the entire chapter showing how these different characteristics go hand in hand, but at the time many people refused to see it. Women began to fight for equality in education, the working field, and not be seen or treated as prizes men keep at home. Same as African American woman fought for education, the ability to obtain better jobs, and a voice. Through they fought for many of the same rights black women were rarely involved in protests or meetings in the beginning. Davis is showing us that race, gender, and class are a big divider between the people, but the fight for rights and equality unite the people.
In the London Convention as Davis mentions women were allowed to attend but were ultimately silenced allowing them only to watch, but two men William Lloyd Garrison along with Charles Remond, refused to take their seats and participate igniting the start of the women’s movements.Davis tells about the Grimke sisters who had noticed the lack of black woman in anti-slavery societies and said that they should be addressed in the convention. It was not until the Seneca Falls Convention that the people realized that no matter the color of their skin, both black and white people were fighting for equality, education, better working conditions and so on.After the Seneca Falls Convention Davis informs us that a Convention in Philadelphia invited black and white women and Lucretia Mott attended. Later on the first Women’s right convention was held in Massachusetts where people of any race can attend and both white and black women gave their speeches. At the convention was sojourner truth who spoke up against men. Davis writes about Sojourner Truth’s powerful speech and how she proved she, as well as a lot of women, were never pampered and worked just as hard as men in order to get what she wanted in life. Also with a lot of oppression from her peers Sojourner Truth fought that her fight for equality was no different from that of the white women. Lastly Davis tells about how Elizabeth Cady Staton and Susan B. Anthony attempted to unite the people by protesting that all rights be given to both women and African Americans showing the unity of the two groups in order to accomplish their goal of equality.

In the third chapter of Woman, Race & Class by Angela Davis, she places focus on a woman named Sojourner Truth. Davis starts off with how Sojourner Truth became a symbol for black women in their fight against both racism and sexism. Truth is stated to have saved the Akron women’s meeting because she was the only one that answered the arguments made by male supremacists.  Truth’s aggressive and assertive action in her speech “Ain’t I a woman” when she showed her arm to the audience and revealed the muscle she had gained after working in the fields without the aid of a man. Truth showed that women aren’t weak and didn’t need a man’s help with her recollections of her time as a slave in response to any arguments against women’s suffrage, as well as using logic against male supremacists.   Davis says that Truth had gained the attention of the white women who were there through by doing what they could not because of their timid attitude. One person affected by her speech was Frances Dana Gage who basically saw Truth as their convention’s savior through her actions. While there were those who opposed to having Truth be their speaker those views slowly turned after her speech. Truth was a sign that the race and class of a woman didn’t matter.  Truth inspirited those in the women’s movement to not fall under the weight of the opposition. Her actions showed even white women that simply because she was black that didn’t make any different in the fact they were women in their struggle. Truth was a powerful voice in the fight for equality and would often give her two cents; she was a force that not only fought for her rights as a black woman but as an inspiration to her fellow sister regardless if their race or class.

Alfie Corteza

Dr. Bullock

WGS 10000 Section 09

In chapter 3 of “Women, Race and Class” by Angela Y. Davis, she includes an incident of segregation involving an individual who sided with the abolition movement. This event occurred in the summer of 1848, it included Frederick Douglass’ and his wife’s daughter not being able to take part in an all female seminary. The significance as to why this moment was covered in this chapter was because the person responsible for enforcing the isolation was an abolitionist woman. As the Douglas family protested the segregationist policy, the principal called for a vote if any of the other female students didn’t agree to the integration in the classroom. The result of the dilemma ended with Douglass’ daughter being excluded by only the parent’s vote of the students for exclusion, and interestingly enough not one of the students voted against the integration.

I believe that Davis included this situation as it reveals that even though there were women from the North that were pro anti-slavery, there were still issues regarding internal racism in the gender-equality movement. Davis states, that as a result of this situation, and those that were similar to it, had caused a resolution to be developed by the National Convention of Colored Freedman in 1848, that all women have the same equality (1981, 64). It reveals the flaws of the early stages of the abolitionist campaign, by displaying internal conflicts between genders, and class even though they were fighting for the same thing. It is not only disheartening but also concerning as a person fighting for women’s rights would reveal a position of superiority in regards to race, even though all of the women in the United States were suffering under gender inequality. From what was understood from the reading, the state of the coalition for women equality for all races was in the right direction but had major flaws that needed to be rectified.

Hi, I’m Daniel and this is going to be my second year at Hunter. I look forward to having a great semester with you all. 😀

In Chapter 3 of Angela Davis’s book, Davis sheds light on the beginnings of women’s rights and how gender played a huge role on how a person was treated. Women have always been viewed as inferior compared to men and certain events in history are shown to highlight that idea. Several figures in women’s rights movement arranged the first women’s right convention in New York to discuss the civil, social, and religious rights women deserved and should be entitled to. This convention gained much attention, however despite how much attention the convention had garnered the majority of the people present were men, which really demonstrated the difference in men and women; men had the last word to what rights women deserved. Its ironic that a convention about women’s rights is hosted and little to none of those who attended are females. Although this convention was a huge flop in my opinion, it led the way to numerous other events pertaining to women’s rights.

Females were always considered to be weak, dependent, and less capable than men. In the early days females never attended school, only the boys did. Females always stayed at home learning household tasks and being told that one day she’ll be like a maid taking care of the family.  In the older days there were very few women that went through the school system, Elizabeth Stanton with the help of her parents support was able to accomplish many things that were considered not appropriate for women. Stanton was able to complete equestrian tasks, study Greek, as well as going on to studying law with her father. Coming from a wealthy family, she as able to accomplish all this much easier than those coming from middle to low income families. She really had a unique childhood and a really bright future, however she ultimately ended up like every other women in her time, a basic housewife confined to her home and husband. Davis showed this example to emphasize the lack of rights/opportunities, Stanton had a great upbringing but that didn’t lead to anywhere.

Even though in today’s day and age, there is a still a huge gap between men and women; a lot has changed for the better but there is still a lot left to be done. Women are able to do much more, going to school, getting a job, making her own decisions, etc. Even though are these are commonplace now a days, I feel like the society’s idea what a women should be has really changed a lot. In the U.S as well as other countries, Disney movies play a good chunk in a child’s childhood. Many of the movies portray women as weak and dependent needing a Prince Charming to come in and save them.

In “Women, Race, and Class,” Angela Davis references many figures and events that help the reader understand the relationship between the history of women’s movements to the topics of gender, class and race. Davis provides many examples that show the reader time and time again, that race, gender, and class are linked and cannot be separated. One figure that I found to be a good example of this interrelation is Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who had an integral contribution in the women’s rights movement. Born and raised in a white middle-class family, she was frustrated with her lifestyle. Years later, after becoming a mother and a housewife, she attended the Anti-Slavery Convention in 1840 alongside her abolitionist husband. However, when she attended the convention, she was excluded from fully participating. For example, she wasn’t allowed to speak. Due to experiencing such sexism, she decided to help create a movement that would promote gender equality. Elizabeth helped organize the Seneca Falls Convention in 1840, a convention that focused on justice and equality for women. However, Davis pointed out a fact that was very hypocritical in the message of the convention. The Seneca Falls Convention excluded black women. In my opinion, these two conventions and Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s experience are put by Davis as perfect examples of what happens when we focus on gender and neglect race/class or focus on race and forget gender.

Race (or class) and gender are linked and we cannot separate them. The women who organized the Seneca Falls Convention assumed they were promoting equality for “women,” when they were in fact promoting equality for “White” women. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her fellow organizers believed that they should respond to the sexism in the anti-slavery movement by focusing on gender, but that led to the exclusion of racial minorities. To truly fight for equality in an inclusive way that reflects people’s experience, we have to look at the intersection of race and gender. This reading led to reflect on my experience as a woman from a religious minority. As a Muslim woman, my experience is different from women of different races and ethnicities and so are my experiences with inequality. Muslim women face objectification and sexism like many women, but they also face Islamophobia due to their religion. Black women face sexism and racism. Davis shows us that race, gender, and class are related and therefore, any movement that aims to promote true equality must include all of them.