By TARA CONNELL
Feminists can please some of the people, all of the time and all of the people some of
the time. But if the feminist is a black woman, she had a hard time pleasing anybody, anytime.
When Black WOMEN try to organize as feminists, we are told that the black movement is more important. We must support the men while they become liberated.
"Established feminists tell us we are splitting the women's movement. We get sexism from black men and racism from white women.
This isn't true of all black men and all white women, of course, but it is the general attitude," said Jane Wilson, a member of the National Black Feminist Organization and ,Southern Westchester National Organization for Women (NOW).
Ms. Wilson. a resident of Mount Vernon and a social worker for the Mount Vernon Day Care Center, firmly believes that "liberation is liberation."
"For the black movement to emphasize the black male is liberating only one side. And feminist groups haven't addressed themselves to the problems or black women. such as, 'women in prisons, addiction, welfare. These are issues a white oriented groupe can't handle," she said.
Ms. Wilson is trying to organize, a Westchester chapter of the Black Feminist Organization because "I believe black women have a much higher stake in feminism than any other group." she said.
The organization is still in a formative stage. Before the group can become official, It must wait for the National BFO to receive a charter.
And it must wait for black women to be convinced of the importance of feminism.
"THE BLACK media is very negative about feminism. Most black women are not interested in the women's movement because all they see is the stereotype of the white, middle-class woman tired of washing dishes.. They feel it has no relevance to their lives.
"But about 42 per cent of all poor families at headed by women. 1. think that's a clear indictment of sexism," she said.
She is often confronted with the question,''Since black women traditionally have been strong.
aren't they already liberated?"
''I don't believe that. Yes, black women are strong. They have to be strong to survive.. BUT there is no power in that strength. Strong and liberated are two different words.
If free to be raped means you're free then yes, black women are free," she said.
she believes her group can give black men something that neither the black nor the women's movements can offer.
"We can offer an organization dedicated to her specific specific needs. As a black woman, she is black and female in a society that is both racst and sexist."
"The group will give us a chance to identify for ourselves our problems and how we
wish to deal with them. It will help us develop a positive image of ourselves, to eliminate the
stereotypes", she said.
Some of the programs she hopes her group will adopt are, a study of the professional woman. an end to forced sterilization.
"I don't know of any documented cases," she asserted. and an investigation of job training
programs for black women.
I'm not sure yet what We w ill be doing. It will be up to the women who join To decide our priorities." she said.
Ms. Wilson argues that the organization of a separate group of black feminists will not split tile women's movement.
"There can be coalitions with other feminist groups. I think it will be great to work together on issues that affect us all.
"WHEN it Comes to the Equal Rights Amendment, abortion and sex role stereotyping, we can go out together and raise cane.
"But there are areas that the women's movement hasn't addressed itself to. They don't have the people and it is up to us.
"It really is very exciting," she said.
To get the group started In enough time to become the first chapter of the Black Feminist. Organization, a meeting will be held at 8 p.m., Mar. 26 at the office of Westchester's Civil Liberties Union, 10 Martine Ave.., White Plains.