
By understanding how the women’s rights movement started, and how it continues to progress, will lead this country towards a more equal society.  Not only is their anger leading the fight for women’s equality, but there is hate and race driven between women everywhere.  It is extremely important for women to understand the lack of equality between all types of women.  There is a difference between treatment of black women, and white women.  Once more feminist activists realize this, we will progress further towards equality.  I look at it like two roads and I am trapped in the middle.  I am a white woman, fighting for equality, with an understanding of the differences all women share.  These roads should not be separated, but they should be intertwined to become stronger.  

Anger can be a beautiful thing.  By using anger, the correct way, change is possible.  I have found myself angry with the treatment of myself and other women across the world.  The uses off anger are so important, to make sure you do it the right way.  Turning anger into action without the use of aggression is the way to do it.  Peaceful protestors are looked upon as passionate people fighting for their rights among media outlets.  By turning to aggression and letting it overcome the anger, you have now become the aggressor.  No longer can your cause be helped because our fight is no longer the victim in the situation.  Martin Luther King Jr. is the perfect example of a leader who taught less hate, and more peace.  He expressed this within all of his protestors.  Never fight back, always stand tall to your morals.  These are ideals that the Black Lives Matter movement has held close.  They express love and equality, and always teach to remain peaceful protestors. 

This past election was extremely troubling to me in many ways.  I think it said a lot about our country as a whole.  That we value bigotry and hatred over love.  A striking statistic to me is the percentage of different minorities of women that voted for each party.  Black women voted 94% for Hillary, while white women voted 53% for Donald Trump (citation).  On election day dozens of women payed their respects to Susan B. Anthony’s grave, yet she only fought for white women receiving the right to vote.  The historical differences between the two groups are vastly different, yet many have no idea.  I heard several men honestly tell me that they would not vote for Hillary Clinton because she was a woman.  What kind of message does that send?  I was so excited for Hillary Clinton to become the next President of the United States for so many reasons.  But one in particular that hurts to think about is that she would be proving my parents right.  I have always grown up taught that I can do anything I put my mind to, even become the President.  Although it did not happen now, I keep hope alive that I will live to see that final glass ceiling break.  The craziest part to me is the strength in women.  Hillary is one of the strongest public figures I have ever seen, and yes she happens to be a woman.  But her supporters are strong as well.  They managed to dust themselves off and use this anger to fuel change.  As Jeffrey Wright tweeted, “May the election of Trump bring forth the fiercest, smartest, toughest generation of ass-kicking women this country could possibly imagine.”  I really hope we can prove him right too.  What saddens me the most is immediately after Hillary lost, she had to remind all the little girls across the nation of their worth and power.  The fact that she has to say that, is frightening to me.  No man would ever have to remind little boys of that notion.  Things are still not equal. 

The comic Bitch Planet, we read in class was a wonderful example of Black Women’s rights.  First off, comics do not usually contain black characters, let alone black female characters.  The author Kelly Sue DeConnick took a lot of heat for putting so many women in her comics, which is the inspiration behind Bitch Planet.  It puts an entertaining, story plot spin on the struggle black women struggle with.  Like me, the main character is angry with the way she is treated.  Society tries to form her into a perfect depiction of their women.  But she is not going to change for her “fathers.”  She later succumbs to violence, which is a depiction of her anger overcoming her body.  I love the ending because it ties into Lorde’s piece on dark inner places.  Although as peaceful feminist protestors we cannot let anger overcome the cause.  But, the feelings we have on the inside cannot be hidden.  When I have been told sexist remarks throughout my life I have wanted to get violent.  Boys have always joked for me to “go get them a sandwich” or “get back to the kitchen.”  It is not a joke and it is demeaning.  The comic of Bitch Planet illustrates how most women feel on the inside, frustrated and tired of being the bigger person for nothing in return.  But we have come a long way, by staying positive and peaceful we will achieve more success for all women, no matter the skin color.   

Despite the fact that I had a moderately normal, happy childhood, I wasn’t always treated perfectly.  I dealt with sexist remarks all through grade school.  My first encounter with sexist behavior was fourth grade.  Every morning we had a topic of the day in which we each expressed our thoughts behind a question.  The question was “what do you want to be when you grow up?”  I answered with The President of the United States of America.  Later that day a little boy told me I could not become President because I was a girl.  He explained that there had never been a female President, which means I cannot do it.  My mother remembers this experience to because I went home that night and cried.  Two months later I cried even harder when it was official that Barack Obama would be the next Democratic candidate, and not Hillary Clinton.  To be exposed to this sort of sexism at such a young age was harsh.  Little did I know at the time the strides were even larger for a black woman in our country. When playing sports with both boys and girls, boys always picked the girls last despite their talent.  In high school girls were not to wear spaghetti straps because it “distracted the boys.”  I was literally sent to an education system in which my school valued the boys learning atmosphere, over mine.  At family events when sports talk would come up, the old men would NEVER take into consideration the sports opinion of a woman.  I always had to keep quiet because if I voiced my views it only made things worse for myself.  To avoid conflict, I kept my mouth shut, well I am not doing that anymore.  Anger is built up inside of me because of all these situations.  How could it not be?  There is only so much a person can take before they decide enough is enough.  I am positive if you ask any boy in our class, he never dealt with the same problems.  I know many girls that dealt with the same types of situations.  I know I am not alone.  Which is why we as a female race need to stand together against gender, and racial inequalities.  

In conclusion not only does race and gender intertwine when it comes to the fight towards justice, but the anger that powers it is important.  The anger behind the action must be smart, peaceful, and powerful.  We must keep in mind why we are doing what we are doing.  Never forget the experiences pushed upon us as people.  Never forget the time a boy told you to “go make him a sandwich,” or the time you were told “I only date white women not black women.”  These are the moments that strengthen our will to fight.  As Jeffrey Wright said I will continue to work hard to make sure I am successful in spite of the hateful, sexist, racist people our country is filled with.  I will continue to push towards equality for all, and break glass ceilings.