I'm every woman, it's all in meeeeeeeee
I really like my Black Woman class. The professor sometimes lacks personality, but that woman has so much knowledge in her head that I just want to write everything down and remember it forever. This next bit is an excerpt from a book by Alice Walker called 'In Search of Our Mother's Garden.' It didn't really mean much to me when I first read it, but once it sunk in, I decided that I love it. Parts 2 & 3 are my favorites.
Womanist:
1. From womanish. (Opposite of "girlish," for example, frivolous, irresponsible, not serious.) A black feminist or feminist of color. From the black folk expression of mothers to female children, "You acting womanish," i.e., like a woman. Usually referring to outrageous, audacious, courageous or willful behavior. Wanting to know more and in greater depth than is considered "good" for one. Interested in grown-up doings. Acting grown up. Being grown up. Interchangeable with another black folk expression: "You trying to be grown." Responsible. In charge. Serious.
2. Also: A woman who loves other women, sexually and/or nonsexually. Appreciates and prefers women's culture, women's emotional flexibility (values tears as natural counterbalance of laughter), and women's strength. Sometimes loves individual men, sexually and/or nonsexually. Committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female. Not a separatist, except periodically, for health. Traditionally universalist, as in: "Mama, why are we brown, pink and yellow, and our cousins are white, beige and black?" Ans.: "Well, you know the colored race is just like a flower garden, with ever color flower represented." Traditionally capable, as in: "Mama, I'm walking to Canada and I'm taking you and a bunch of other slaves with me." Reply: "It wouldn't be the first time."
3. Loves music. Loves dance. Loves the moon. Loves the Spirit. Loves love and food and roundness. Loves struggle. Loves the Folk. Loves herself. Regardless.
4. Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender.
Soooo, I'd like to call myself a Womanist, but I'm not 'of color', so I don't think I qualify. In any case, I love that I actually learn something new every time I go to this class. Like how monuments shaped like the Washington Monument are called Obelisks and they really do represent phalluses because thats the only part of Isis's husband that her priests couldn't find when they put him back together, so she built monuments to his penis everywhere...and the founding fathers were all masons who studied the skills of the ancient Egyptians. Thats why there are all sorts of Ancient Egyptian symbols all over our dollar bills, too. Annnd.....there are tribes in Africa in which the women only have an average of 2 or 3 periods a year because they're living off the land and not putting foods chock full of weird hormones into their bodies. Natural birth control. But what would I do without my junk food? White bread contains some of the same ingredients as styrofoam. And I got weirded out when she pointed out that humans are the only animals that continue to drink milk after they are weaned from their mothers. I'm trying not to think about this, though, because I like milk, thanks.
I <3 Erica's hula hoop. So much fun but it makes my abs sore because I am So not in shape. That should be remedied...but in some way that includes my friends like Ben, Haagen and Jerry. haha.
My hallway smells like donuts again. Someone around here is not a good share-er. I would like some, please.
Womanist:
1. From womanish. (Opposite of "girlish," for example, frivolous, irresponsible, not serious.) A black feminist or feminist of color. From the black folk expression of mothers to female children, "You acting womanish," i.e., like a woman. Usually referring to outrageous, audacious, courageous or willful behavior. Wanting to know more and in greater depth than is considered "good" for one. Interested in grown-up doings. Acting grown up. Being grown up. Interchangeable with another black folk expression: "You trying to be grown." Responsible. In charge. Serious.
2. Also: A woman who loves other women, sexually and/or nonsexually. Appreciates and prefers women's culture, women's emotional flexibility (values tears as natural counterbalance of laughter), and women's strength. Sometimes loves individual men, sexually and/or nonsexually. Committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female. Not a separatist, except periodically, for health. Traditionally universalist, as in: "Mama, why are we brown, pink and yellow, and our cousins are white, beige and black?" Ans.: "Well, you know the colored race is just like a flower garden, with ever color flower represented." Traditionally capable, as in: "Mama, I'm walking to Canada and I'm taking you and a bunch of other slaves with me." Reply: "It wouldn't be the first time."
3. Loves music. Loves dance. Loves the moon. Loves the Spirit. Loves love and food and roundness. Loves struggle. Loves the Folk. Loves herself. Regardless.
4. Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender.
Soooo, I'd like to call myself a Womanist, but I'm not 'of color', so I don't think I qualify. In any case, I love that I actually learn something new every time I go to this class. Like how monuments shaped like the Washington Monument are called Obelisks and they really do represent phalluses because thats the only part of Isis's husband that her priests couldn't find when they put him back together, so she built monuments to his penis everywhere...and the founding fathers were all masons who studied the skills of the ancient Egyptians. Thats why there are all sorts of Ancient Egyptian symbols all over our dollar bills, too. Annnd.....there are tribes in Africa in which the women only have an average of 2 or 3 periods a year because they're living off the land and not putting foods chock full of weird hormones into their bodies. Natural birth control. But what would I do without my junk food? White bread contains some of the same ingredients as styrofoam. And I got weirded out when she pointed out that humans are the only animals that continue to drink milk after they are weaned from their mothers. I'm trying not to think about this, though, because I like milk, thanks.
I <3 Erica's hula hoop. So much fun but it makes my abs sore because I am So not in shape. That should be remedied...but in some way that includes my friends like Ben, Haagen and Jerry. haha.
My hallway smells like donuts again. Someone around here is not a good share-er. I would like some, please.