For Black Women, A Newsletter About Race, Gender, Culture, and History
An brief introduction with expectations
Welcome to For Black Women, a newsletter that features narratives about race, gender, culture, and history. I will share some of my unique insights and experiences directly in your inbox. Why is this important? After four years of writing online, I’ve noticed that success is often contingent upon the approval of gatekeepers. Anyone reviewing essays has to assess the presumed value for readers. While tastes will differ, I can confidently say that my articles result from hours of research, writing, and editing. Despite gaining over 60,000 followers on a major writing platform, I discovered many of my stories had little to no views lately, as if they weren’t even distributed to my followers, let alone a wider audience. Subscribing to this newsletter ensures that you will access my writing, regardless of whether others boost or promote these stories.
Many writers, editors, journalists, and scholars already use Substack to send newsletters that inform, entertain, and challenge readers. It’s my hope this newsletter contributes to those same goals. Why call this newsletter “For Black Women,” some of you may wonder. As a writer, I often feel that I am writing for Black women, not in the sense that only they could enjoy my writing or find it meaningful, but because, too often, this perspective is omitted from the national discourse. The layered experience of being Black and a woman in American society should be carefully considered, especially during an era when women’s rights have been substantially reduced. There are many misconceptions about womanism, a term and movement coined by writer and scholar Alice Walker. However, this newsletter series will unpack some of the complexity of this dynamic and examine why some are so resistant to learning about the perspectives of Black women. While some long-form posts will remain free and accessible to the public, some content will only appear for paid subscribers. For Black Women will feature guest writers, podcasts, and video content. So, get ready for an exciting journey as I explore all of Substack's features.
This newsletter will explore and examine topics that matter to Black women. Some overlap with the broader concerns of the black community, while others are unique to their experience as women or the intersection of this identity. I believe much of the prejudice we see in modern-day society can be explained by efforts to justify injustices, whether they impact a racial or gendered group. One example, which I will expand upon in the coming months, is colorblind racism, or as some social scientists refer to the phenomenon, colorblind racial attitudes. While many White people believe that it’s best to adopt a colorblind perspective and not discuss race or racism to alleviate tensions between groups, this worldview has an entirely different effect. Those who do not see racism, or at least claim they don’t, will not position themselves as agents of positive change. On the contrary, they will double down, maintaining the racial hierarchy, by claiming they don’t see anything about it.
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