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A review by seeceeread
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
informative
inspiring
reflective
2.5
💭 "Freedom has a price that we all must pay together."
Kendall opens by telling us she's not nice, and she doesn't want to be — there's too much at stake. Feminism has left behind those who need it most. She uses the book's sections to add details. By marginalized, she means poor, dark-skinned, Black, indigenous, Latine, trans and gender non-conforming, disabled, hood, rural, rez ... Mainstream US feminists should be taking up gun violence, hunger, sexuality, beauty and aesthetics, housing. Citing reports, Twitter trends, Serena Williams and federal government schemes, she explains why she's committed to shifting attention, as well as why she expects feminists to follow her.
MK has a solid thesis. She crams 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 (😅) of good ideas into short essays and the text overall. Her anecdotes add welcome specificity. She's pushing for work I believe in, and do. and yet . . .
This did not slap. Maybe because I just read hooks' 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 and I'm stuck on how well bell made similar points in a more timeless and concise way — as well as how she rejects "carceral feminism," "power feminism," and the like as coopted rhetoric and not, actually, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. Perhaps it's that Kendall's "we" of "mainstream feminism" is for somebody else, someone with more interest in hot takes on Alyssa Milano, Megan McCain and Lena Dunham. It might be that I don't especially identify with the approach; I abandoned the role of "ally educator" years ago. The pattern of white insistence on ignorance that must be appealed to and appeased is exhausting. As Toni told me, "None of this is necessary. There will always be one more thing."
I hope the right people find this. And learn better. And do better.
Kendall opens by telling us she's not nice, and she doesn't want to be — there's too much at stake. Feminism has left behind those who need it most. She uses the book's sections to add details. By marginalized, she means poor, dark-skinned, Black, indigenous, Latine, trans and gender non-conforming, disabled, hood, rural, rez ... Mainstream US feminists should be taking up gun violence, hunger, sexuality, beauty and aesthetics, housing. Citing reports, Twitter trends, Serena Williams and federal government schemes, she explains why she's committed to shifting attention, as well as why she expects feminists to follow her.
MK has a solid thesis. She crams 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 (😅) of good ideas into short essays and the text overall. Her anecdotes add welcome specificity. She's pushing for work I believe in, and do. and yet . . .
This did not slap. Maybe because I just read hooks' 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 and I'm stuck on how well bell made similar points in a more timeless and concise way — as well as how she rejects "carceral feminism," "power feminism," and the like as coopted rhetoric and not, actually, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. Perhaps it's that Kendall's "we" of "mainstream feminism" is for somebody else, someone with more interest in hot takes on Alyssa Milano, Megan McCain and Lena Dunham. It might be that I don't especially identify with the approach; I abandoned the role of "ally educator" years ago. The pattern of white insistence on ignorance that must be appealed to and appeased is exhausting. As Toni told me, "None of this is necessary. There will always be one more thing."
I hope the right people find this. And learn better. And do better.