A review by misspalah
Women, Race & Class by Angela Y. Davis

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Sojourner Truth single-handedly rescued the Akron women's meeting from the disruptive jeers of hostile men. Of all the women attending the gathering, she alone was able to answer aggressively the male supremacist arguments of the boisterous provocateurs. Possessing an undeniable charisma and powerful oratorical abili-ties, Sojourner Truth tore down the claims that female weakness was incompatible with suffrage - and she did this with irrefutable logic. The leader of the provocateurs had argued that it was ridiculous for women to desire the vote, since they could not even walk over a puddle or get into a carriage without the help of a man. Sojourner Truth pointed out with compelling simplicity that she herself had never been helped over mud puddles or into carriages. 'And ain't I a woman?' With a voice like 'rolling thunder',* she said, 'Look at me! Look at my arm,' and rolled up her sleeve to reveal the 'tremendous muscular power' of her arms. I have ploughed, and planted, and gathered into barns and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children and seen them most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?

• Class and Race in the early women’s right campaign : Women, Race and Class by Angela Davis

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This book is definitely worth revisiting from time to time. The discussion is detailed and complex, and you can’t fully absorb everything in one read. It dives deep into the history of activism among African American women, highlighting their contributions to social justice movements, despite the dual challenges of racial and gender discrimination. Angela Davis emphasizes how many mainstream suffrage organizations, like the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), either excluded or marginalized Black women. This was because white suffragists often feared that including Black women would alienate Southern supporters who upheld white supremacy. The book also critiques mainstream feminism for historically ignoring issues affecting women of color and calls for a more inclusive, intersectional feminist approach. White feminism has long been problematic, both in the past and now. The suffrage movement mostly focused on the concerns of middle- and upper-class white women, often overlooking the struggles Black women faced, such as racial violence, economic exploitation, and disenfranchisement in the South. It explores how women of color have been exploited in the labor market—from slavery to modern-day forms of economic exploitation—demonstrating how race, class, and gender oppression are intertwined. After the 15th Amendment gave Black men the right to vote before any women could vote, women of color faced a crossroads—support Black men’s right to vote first or align with white women in the suffrage movement. Things didn’t improve much when white suffragists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton used racist rhetoric to argue for women’s suffrage. Many middle- and upper-class white women saw themselves as entitled to political power because of their race and class, believing they had a natural right to lead and influence society, even over Black people. This belief in racial superiority created divisions between Black and white activists, as white suffragists could focus on their own goals without confronting racial justice issues. A clear example of this division was seen in the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession in Washington, D.C., where Black women like Ida B. Wells were asked to march separately or at the back. Davis also shows how the exclusion of Black women from the suffrage movement had long-lasting effects. While the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote in 1920, many Black women, especially in the South, couldn’t exercise that right until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. One of the most interesting sections of the book examines the role of the Communist movement in supporting Black women, especially in the early to mid-20th century. Davis highlights how the Communist Party took an intersectional approach, recognizing that Black women faced unique challenges due to their race, class, and gender. Unlike many mainstream movements that focused only on race or gender, the Communist movement addressed all three. This resonated with Black women who were often marginalized by labor and civil rights movements. The Communist Party was also heavily involved in labor organizing, recruiting Black women into unions and fighting for better wages, working conditions, and labor rights. Unlike other groups, Communist organizations often worked in integrated settings, uniting Black and white activists to fight capitalism and imperialism, especially in the segregated South. In the final chapter, Davis discusses how reproductive rights and justice intersect with race and class, emphasizing how women’s control over their bodies has been systematically restricted. She also examines how the unpaid labor of housewives is often overlooked by the capitalist system. Overall, this is a must-read book. If you’re interested in the role Black women—and some white women—have played in resisting oppression, racism, and inequality, this book is a great choice.