Video Related to Womanism and Black Feminism

    The video Journey to Liberation: The Legacy of Womanist Theology offers a compelling and insightful examination of Womanist Theology and its role in feminist and religious movements. The video shows notable educators and activists explaining the history, concepts, and effects of Womanist Theology, as well as its importance in today's society.

    Womanist Theology, as described in the video, is a viewpoint that confronts various difficulties, truths, and experiences of African American women within the larger picture of Christianity. The video emphasizes the relevance of intersectionality in Womanist Theology. Intersectionality is the concept that different types of oppression, such as racism, sexism, and classism, overlap and perpetuate one another. The Womanist Reader states, “War, violence, poverty, environmental degradation, racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, heterosexism, xenophobia, ableism, ageism, inadequate health care, inadequate education, and the like all begin in the realm of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Womanists value everyday activism that involves confronting violence and oppression wherever and whenever they appear across the course of a day” (Phillips, 2006). Womanist Theology acknowledges that Black women encounter numerous types of oppression and discrimination, and works to address these overlapping power structures in its understanding of religion and spirituality.

    That said, the video also demonstrates the importance of Womanist Theology in questioning established teachings of scripture and religious teachings. In the video, Dr. Kaite Canon reveals that even as a child, she was worried about race. She struggled to comprehend how God loved black people when, aside from attending black schools and churches, they were unable to participate in ordinary activities such as visiting parks, skating rinks, and libraries. This corresponds with In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens as it states, “How was the creativity of the black woman kept alive, year after year and century after century, when for most of the years black people have been in America, it was a punishable crime for a black person to read or write? And the freedom to paint, to sculpt, to expand the mind with action did not exist” (Walker, 1972). Womanist theologians criticize how Christianity has traditionally supported patriarchal and white supremacist beliefs, instead proposing alternative interpretations that recognize Black women's worth and power. In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens further states, “ These crazy Saints stared out at the world, wildly, like lunatics-or quietly, like suicides; and the "God" that was in their gaze was as mute as a great stone” (Walker, 1972). Ideally, Womanist Theology offers a more inclusive and liberating perspective on faith and spirituality by focusing on the experiences of oppressed communities.

    Additionally, the video delves into the influence of Womanist Theology on current social justice movements. Womanist theologians have been crucial in advocating for racial and gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and economic equality. The Womanist Reader states, “In line with liberation psychology, womanists also recognize the role of societal structures in physical and psychological health: peace and justice are health-favoring conditions, while war and injustice are health-compromising conditions” (Phillips, 2006). Through their studies and activism, they have inspired and empowered oppressed populations to oppose oppressive institutions and fight for freedom.

    Overall, Journey to Liberation: The Legacy of Womanist Theology provides a thorough and persuasive account of the role of Womanist Theology in feminist and religious debate. Womanist Theology greatly impacts the battle for justice and equality by emphasizing Black women's experiences and calling for a more inclusive and liberated vision of faith.

References:

Phillips, Layli. The Womanist Reader. 1st ed. Taylor and Francis, 2006. 

Walker, Alice. “Alice Walker In Search of Our Mothers Gardens.” Scribd, Scribd, 1972, www.scribd.com/document/468294966/Alice-Walker-In-Search-Of-Our-Mothers-Gardens.