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Difficulty: HardBlack Feminist and Womanist Movements

Read the following excerpt from Alice Walker’s introduction to *In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens* (1983):

"Womanist... A black feminist or feminist of color... [who is] committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female. Not a separatist, except periodically, for health... Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender."

Based on this passage, which of the following best describes how Walker's concept of womanism distinguishes itself from mainstream second-wave feminism of the late twentieth century?

  1. A
    It prioritizes gender struggles over racial struggles, arguing that gender oppression is the primary contradiction that all women face.
  2. It emphasizes the liberation and wholeness of the entire Black community, including both men and women, rather than advocating for gender separatism.Answer
  3. C
    It advocates for the complete integration of Black women into mainstream white feminist organizations to achieve legislative reforms.
  4. D
    It rejects political activism and structural critique in favor of focusing solely on the preservation of traditional domestic roles.

Answer

It emphasizes the liberation and wholeness of the entire Black community, including both men and women, rather than advocating for gender separatism.
The correct option is correct because it accurately captures the central tenet of Alice Walker's concept of womanism as expressed in the excerpt. By specifying a commitment to the 'wholeness of entire people, male and female' and explicitly stating that a womanist is 'not a separatist,' Walker distinguishes womanism from some strands of mainstream second-wave feminism that prioritized gender-only solidarity or advocated for gender separatism. Womanism insists on addressing the intersection of race, class, and gender, requiring a collaborative struggle alongside Black men against systemic racism while simultaneously combating sexism.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided text excerpt from Alice Walker's work.
Identify the key components of Walker's definition of 'womanist', specifically her mention of being 'committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female' and 'not a separatist.'
This establishes the core features of womanism as a community-oriented, non-separatist framework.
2
Contrast this definition with mainstream second-wave feminism of the late twentieth century.
Mainstream second-wave feminism was frequently criticized by Black feminists and womanists for prioritizing gender over race, neglecting the experiences of working-class women and women of color, and sometimes promoting separatist gender politics that alienated Black men.
This contrast helps pinpoint how womanism addresses the unique position of Black women who seek community solidarity while fighting oppression.
3
Evaluate the answer choices against Walker's definition and the historical context of the movement.
The option highlighting the focus on the wholeness of the entire community, including both men and women, directly aligns with the text's assertion of commitment to 'entire people, male and female' and not being separatist.
This confirms the correct choice based on direct textual analysis and historical understanding.

Key Concept

Black Feminist and Womanist Movements
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Topics

Black Feminist and Womanist Movements

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