notes from the women that a movement forgot

An unforgettable debut, Kendall has written a ferocious clarion call to all would-be feminists to live out the true mandate of the movement in thought and in deed. Drawing on her own experiences with hunger, violence, and hypersexualization, along with incisive commentary on reproductive rights, politics, pop culture, the stigma of mental health, and more, Hood Feminism delivers an irrefutable indictment of a movement in flux. In her searing collection of essays, Mikki Kendall takes aim at the legitimacy of the modern feminist movement, arguing that it has chronically failed to address the needs of all but a few women. How can we stand in solidarity as a movement, Kendall asks, when there is the distinct likelihood that some women are oppressing others? Moreover, prominent white feminists broadly suffer from their own myopia with regard to how things like race, class, sexual orientation, and ability intersect with gender. That feminists refuse to prioritize these issues has only exacerbated the age-old problem of both internecine discord and women who rebuff at carrying the title. All too often, however, the focus is not on basic survival for the many, but on increasing privilege for the few. Mainstream feminists rarely talk about meeting basic needs as a feminist issue, argues Mikki Kendall, but food insecurity, access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage, and medical care are all feminist issues. Today's feminist movement has a glaring blind spot, and paradoxically, it is women. “A rousing call to action. It should be required reading for everyone.”-Gabrielle Union, author of We’re Going to Need More WineĪ potent and electrifying critique of today’s feminist movement announcing a fresh new voice in black feminism “One of the most important books of the current moment.”- Time Kendi, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of How to Be an Antiracist, in The Atlantic Kendall offers a feminism rooted in the livelihood of everyday women.” -Ibram X. “ The fights against hunger, homelessness, poverty, health disparities, poor schools, homophobia, transphobia, and domestic violence are feminist fights.

Notes from the women that a movement forgot