What Black Women in West Philadelphia Had to Say About Women’s Equality Day
Some very interesting perspectives here.
http://billmoyers.com/2014/08/27/what-black-women-in-west-philadelphia-had-to-say-about-womens-equality-day/
Moyers & Co
What Black Women in West Philadelphia Had to Say About Women’s Equality Day
August 27, 2014
by Jasmine Burnett
Rarely, if ever, are black women interviewed in the neighborhoods where they live and asked about a policy’s impact on their lives. As such, on the days leading up to Women’s Equality Day, which is held each year on August 26, I felt it was high time for me to begin asking black women in my community about their lived experiences with, and connection to, the laws that secured their right to vote...
...It’s unrealistic to think that black women could celebrate a day like Women’s Equality Day blindly and not reflect on the opportunities to build equality that meets all women where they are. Reagen, for example, provided some insight on how black and undocumented women can connect through their shared experiences: “As much as I think the police won’t show up when I need them, I still can call them without fear of being deported. As a black woman, I think there’s an opportunity for a stronger movement and a stronger ask with brown women who are unafraid and probably need some of that support. I might be in a small minority here, but I actually don’t think it dilutes anyone’s agenda. In fact, it actually strengthens both undocumented immigrant women and black women’s agendas if we were to come together.”
Jillian added that Women’s Equality Day “is an important day for people to take the time to reflect that women are a commodity in the workforce right now — especially given the fact that you have a lot of black women who are the sole providers for their families — it’s very important that we give light to that fact.”
“The majority of black women are holding it down and holding their families down, not just with income but also working in what are considered male-dominated fields because of the limited options for work in our communities.” She went on to explain, “We are taking the initiative to have our voices heard, and taking steps to better ourselves.”.... MORE
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