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Conference turris::womannotes-v1

Title:ARCHIVE-- Topics of Interest to Women, Volume 1 --ARCHIVE
Notice:V1 is closed. TURRIS::WOMANNOTES-V5 is open.
Moderator:REGENT::BROOMHEAD
Created:Thu Jan 30 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 30 1995
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:873
Total number of notes:22329

710.0. "FGD: Double Whammy - Women of Color" by GCANYN::TATISTCHEFF (Lee T) Sun Feb 07 1988 20:23

    More and more is being written on the double whammy of being a woman
    of color in this country.  While feminist rhetoric claims that women
    of color are part of the feminist movement, this claim (made by
    white women, for the most part) is untrue.  Consider the feminist
    reaction to giving Blacks the right to vote: there was general outrage
    that Blacks were considered able to vote while (white) women were
    not.  [The actual quote I saw was amazing, from bell hooks' _ain't
    I a woman_.]  More recently, Black women continue to have a lower
    salary than white women.
    
    Similarly, the Civil Rights rhetoric has claimed to include women
    in the quest for equal rights.  This claim (made by Black men, for
    the most part) is also untrue; the ammendment granting Blacks the
    right to vote did _not_ grant Black women the vote.  Further, Black
    men continue to make more money than women, Black or White.
    
    Listening to the white feminists and the male civil rights activists
    leads a person to think that all is hunky-dory, that neither movement
    is racist or sexist.  Suggesting to a white feminist that she may have
    racist misconceptions/prejudices invokes immediate defensive outrage
    ["how *dare* you..."].  Suggesting to a Black male civil rights
    activist that he may have sexist misconceptions/prejudices invokes
    an equally furious response ["how *dare* you..."].
    
    I hesitate to trust the opinions of men regarding the state/degree
    of sexism in America today.  I hesitate to trust the opinions of
    whites regarding the state/degree of racism in America today.
    
    I would like to hear more from women of color on the double whammy
    they face today.  Since talking about such issues may be touchy,
    I am starting two notes.  This one is for general discussion by
    women and men, of all races.  
    
    The next is for the words of women of color only -- they may be
    personal "click" stories, or they may be quoted (stories, speeches,
    fiction, poetry by women of color).  Please do not bash anything
    in that note -- take it to this note.
    
    Lee
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
710.1Black History Month EventsGCANYN::TATISTCHEFFLee TSun Feb 07 1988 20:46234
    Extracted with permission of the author.
    
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Note 157.0             Black History Events in New England             4 replies
REGPRO::LAW                                          37 lines  28-JAN-1988 22:17
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Black History Events In New England

 *******************************************************************

                      F  Y  I    AND   AWARENESS

   PLEASE PASS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ONTO FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS

 *******************************************************************



Subject:  BLACK HISTORY MONTH EXHIBIT IN NASHUA

As part of its tribute to Black History Month, Digital is pleased to 
sponsor a month-long Smithsonian Museum exhibit entitled "Black Women: 
Achievement Against the Odds."  The Business and Professional Women's 
Heritage Association is organizing the exhibit.

A reception will kick off the exhibit at 2 p.m. on February 7 at the 
Nashua Center for the Arts located at 14 Court Street.  The exhibit 
chronicles the accomplishments of black women in history.  Among the 
distinguished achievers featured are civil rights activist Rosa Parks, 
author Maya Angelou and singer Bessie Smith.  For additional 
information about the exhibit, call (603) 424-6513 or (603) 883-9740.





			   DICK GREGORY

                    Will be speaking at the Shrewsbury
                    facility on Wednesday, February 24, 1988
                    at 11:00 in the Amphitheater.

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Note 157.1             Black History Events in New England                1 of 4
REGPRO::LAW                                          62 lines  29-JAN-1988 12:03
                          -< Black History Calendar >-
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		    BLACK HISTORY MONTH SCHEDULE (APO/CTC)

				FEBRUARY 1988


+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+
|	1      |       2      |	      3	     |	    4	    |	    5	   |
|	       | Movie:  King |		     | Movie:  King |		   |
|	       | Montgomery to|		     | Montgomery to|		   |
|	       | Alabama      |		     | Alabama	    |		   |
|	       | Part I (APO) |		     | Part II (APO)|		   |
|	       | 11:45 - 12:45|		     | 11:45 - 12:45|		   |
+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+
|       8      |       9      |	     10      |	    11	    |	   12	   |
|              |	      | Black History|	    *	    |	    *	   |
|	       |	      |	Trivia Game  |		    |		   |
|	       |	      |	   (CTC)     |		    |		   |
|	       |	      |	11:45 - 12:45|		    |		   |
|	       |	      |   First      |		    |		   |
|	       |	      |Encounter C/R |		    |		   |
+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+
|     15       |      16      |	     17	     |      18 *    |      19	   |
|     *        | Movie:	      |	     *       | Movie:	    |	   *	   |
|	       |   Mandela    |		     |	  Mandela   |		   |
|	       | Part I (APO) |		     | Part I (APO) |		   |
|	       | 11:45 - 1:00 |		     | 11:45 - 1:00 |		   |
|	       |	      |		     |		    |		   |
+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+
|     22       |      23      |	     24	     |	    25	    |	   26	   |
| Selected     |	      |	     *       | Discussion:  |     Soul	   |
| Poetry       |	      |		     |"State of	    |	  Food	   |
| Reading (CTC)|	      |		     |	Being Black |	  Lunch	   |
| 11:45 - 1:00 |	      |		     |	in the U.S."|   (APO/CTC)  |
|   First      |	      |		     |    (APO)     |	Cafeteria  |
| Encounter C/R|	      |		     | 11:45 - 1:00 |		   |
+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+


Additional Activities:

	o  Red, Black, & Green ribbons and display.

	o  Message tents, Black history facts, cafeteria tables.

	o  Other facilities *
	     - Luncheon, February 12, Parker Street, 11:30 - 1:00.
	     - Speaker: Dick Gregory, February 24, SHR - Amphitheater, 11:00a.m.
	     - Movie Series: Eyes On The Prize,	February 11, 12, 15, 17-19,
			CHM - Whittier C/R, 11:45 - 1:00.


For Additional Information Contact:

	APO - 	Kevin McFall, HAZEL::MCFALL, DTN 289-1803
		Karen Wharton, KELVIN::WHARTON, DTN 289-1882

	CTC - 	Lorna Anderson, CADSE::LANDERSON, DTN 287-3377
		Loretta Williams, CADSE::WILLIAMS, DTN 287-3396

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Note 157.2             Black History Events in New England                2 of 4
FDCV11::SMITH                                        50 lines  29-JAN-1988 13:14
                  -< BLACK HISTORY EVENTS IN THE BOSTON AREA >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Multimedia event sponsored by the Mass. College of Art, the Jazz
    Coalition and Roxbury Community College "A CELEBRATION OF BLACK
    AMERICAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN POETRY AND MUSIC", features an 
    international program of poets and musicians.
    
    Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m. at the Tower Auditorium, Mass College of Art,
    621 Huntington Ave.  Tickets $4, student and elder discounts.
    Telephone 232-1555, ext. 504
    ****************************************************************
    
    The Underground Railway Theater of Cambridge presents "ARE YOU
    READY MY SISTER?" a multimedia program about Harriet Tubman  and
    a Quaker woman who helped fugitive slaves.
    
    Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m. Villa Victoria Cultural Center, 85 West Newton
    St., Boston.  Tickets $8 adults, $4 children.  Telephone 497-6136.
    
    Feb. 4, 3:00 p.m. Lower Mills Library, 27 Richmond St., Dorchester.
    Free.  Telephone 298-7841.
    
    ***********************************************************************
    
    MAYA ANGELOU, author of the acclaimed autobiography "I KNOW WHY
    THE CAGE BIRD SINGS," speaks on "Civil Rights," Feb. 7 at Regis
    College.
    
    Feb. 7, 7:oo p.m. Lower Student Union at Regis College, 235
    Wellesley St., Weston, Mass.  Free.  Telephone 893-1820,
    ext. 2039.
    ****************************************************************
    
    Rhode Island storyteller LEN CABRAL, who uses mime, poetry and 
    song in his telling of tales of the Caribbean, Cape Verde
    Islands and Africa, is one of the many special performers 
    celebrating Black History Month at the Boston Children's Museum,
    300 Museum Wharf, Boston, Mass.
    
    Feb. 17, 1 and 2 p.m.  Free with admission: adults $4.50, ages
    2-15 and elders $3.50.  For a complete schedule, telephone
    426-6500.
    
    ***************************************************************
    
    THE ART OF BLACK DANCE AND MUSIC, performed by the Cambridge-based
    dance and music performance company led by director De Ama Battle.
    The perform East African music and dance with traditional costumes
    and instruments.
    
    Feb. 20-21 at 1 and 2 p.m. in Cahners Auditorium at Boston Museum
    of Science, Boston, Mass.  Free with admission.  Telephone 723-2500.
================================================================================
Note 157.3             Black History Events in New England                3 of 4
FDCV11::SMITH                                        35 lines  29-JAN-1988 13:32
                  -< BLACK HISTORY EVENTS IN THE BOSTON AREA >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE, a cabaret-style collection of music poetry
    and literate, of the 1920's developed by artistic director
    Bart Mc Carthy.  The program includes music by Cab Calloway and
    Bessie Smith, writings by Langston Hughes and Zura Neale Hurston,
    and biographical setch of W.E.B. Dubois.
    
    Feb. 25-27 and March 3-5 8 p.m. at the Cambridge Muticulture Arts
    Center, 41 Second St.  Tickets $10.  Telephone 577-1400.
    
    ******************************************************************
    
    The late Dr. Martin Luter King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech will
    be screened Feb. 7 at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum,
    at Columbia Point, during a month-long film series on the civil
    rights movement.
    
    The films show at 2:30 p.m. daily; free with admission.  Adults
    $2.50, elders $1.50, children under 16 free.  Telephone 929-4500.
    
    ******************************************************************
    
    The Museum of Afro-American History and Boston Arfican American
    National Historic Site hosts the annual SOJOURNER TRUTH LECTURE
    SERIES, at the African Meeting House, 8 Smith Court, Beacon Hill.
    "Voices of the Community: Poetry and Historical Readings," 
    opening reception, 3:30 p.m., Jan. 31.  "The History of Black
    Journalism," with speaker journalist Ethel L. Payne, Feb. 2;
    The Power of Television in the Making of Black History," 
    co-sponosred by the School of Journalism at Northeastern University
    Feb. 9; "Presidential Politics and the Black Vote: Promises Made
    and Promises Broken," panelists include representatives of the
    Presidential candidates, moderated by the Harvard Law School
    Professor Charles J. Ogletree, Feb. 16.  Lectures begin at
    6:30 p.m.; light refreshments..  Free
    
================================================================================
Note 157.4             Black History Events in New England                4 of 4
FDCV11::SMITH                                        18 lines  29-JAN-1988 13:40
                -<  "EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF BLACK WOMEN >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The challenges faced by Black Professional Women are addressed in
    two programs.  At Simmons College, Gail Snowden, vice-president
    of the Bank of Boston moderates a panel discussion of "BLACK 
    WOMEN IN BUSINESS,".
    
    Feb. 10 7:30 p.m. at the Graduate School of Management, Case
    Room Building, 451 Marlborough St., Boston.  Telephone 738-2124.
    Free.
    
    ******************************************************************
    
    Jehnnetta Cole, the first black woman president of Spelman College,
    speaks on "EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF BLACK WOMEN: Necessity
    for a New Era," at the Faculty Lounge, Healey Library, 11th Floor,
    UMass-Boston Harbor Campus.
    
    Feb. 11 3:30 p.m.  Telephone 929-8631.  Free.
    
710.2is seperatism a good thing?YODA::BARANSKIBozos need not apply...Mon Feb 08 1988 14:1916
It is my impression (based on an article from a book called "INSIGHT", editor,
'Emily Hurtig'), that the "black movement", seems to have lulled a bit,
especially the attempts at 'black seperatism' promoting the differences/
speciality of blacks, the attempts to create a seperate 'black culture', and
'black space'.

I feel that perhaps these are necessary in the beginning stages of a quest for
equality, for 'conciousness raising', but I feel that they are detrimental in
the long run in creating an 'us v. them' atmosphere.  I hope that the same
elements of the women's movement meet the same fate. 

The article seemed to suggest that blacks, especially at (case in point) West
Coast Colleges felt that they had 'arrived' at where they were trying to get to.
It was not exactly equality, but it was a reasonable facsimile.

Jim. 
710.3who's to judge?OPHION::HAYNESCharles HaynesWed Feb 10 1988 02:0913
    Jim,
    
    I appreciate your viewpoint, but who gets to judge when the "beginning
    stages" are over, when "conciousness" has been raised? I suggest
    that it is up to the minority, and only the minority to so judge.
    
    Check out OPHION::BLACKNOTES if you think that blacks have arrived.
    This very topic has been the subject of some heated discussion
    recently. One person claimed that King's Dream was now.
    
    The reactions were quite strong.
    
    	-- Charles
710.4sex, race, income -- 1980 censusCADSE::GLIDEWELLPeel me a grape, TarzanTue Feb 16 1988 00:1847
            EARNINGS AND INCOME BY RACE AND SPANISH ORIGIN  

                             White     Black        Spanish Origin (3)
Median Income (1)            
  Male                       12,357     7,745       9,236
  Female                      4,394     4,023       4,161

  Median family income       20,502    11,644      14,569
  
% of families earning:

  less than 10,000             17.7      43.1        31.7
  15,000--25,000               30.2      22          27.9
  25,000 and over              36.7      17.1        20.7
  
% of persons below                                       
the poverty line: (2)           8.0      26.6        21.6

(1)  For all persons over 15 years old who had an income.
                                                   
(2)  Figures include only people 15 years and older
                                                                           
(3)  ... the vast majority of Hispanic-Americans are from groups with
established communites in this country.  This fact helps to account in part
for the statistics in the table that indicate higher income for people
of Spanish origin than for blacks.  In recent years, however, the incredible
growth in the number of illegal aliens from Spanish-speaking countries
(especially Mexico and Cuba) have made such income figures suspect at best.

Source:  Bureau of Census, Population Characteristics: Population Profile
of the United States, (1980)

                               --------

The figures are not up-to-the-minute but doubtless the pattern still
holds true.  Why such an "old" table?  Because after three hours of combing
the library, this was the only large scale, reliable set of figures I could
find relating to sex, race, and income.  Perhaps one of the statisticans
among us might comment on this or cite a more recent source. 

Blacknotes has a discussion concerning women's liberation, the civil rights
movement, and which are of political use to black women, the question that 
prompted me to dig up this info.  What I really want are stats on:

  sex, race, last year of education (8th grade, high school, BA, Ph.D

Meigs
710.5what does 'all people who have an income' mean?YODA::BARANSKIThe Mouse Police never sleeps!Tue Feb 16 1988 16:104
Does this table includes all people, or all people who have an income, or
all people who file income taxes, or what?

Jim.
710.6It means what it says.REGENT::BROOMHEADDon&#039;t panic -- yet.Tue Feb 16 1988 17:3011
    Since the figures are from the Census Bureau, not the Internal
    Revenue Service, it means "all people who have an income", whether
    sufficient to be taxable or not.  It does not include housewives
    (per se), who are not paid for their labor; it does not include children
    (age 15 breakpoint -- remember?) who are given an allowance.
    
    You should have been able to figure this out from the "all people
    who have an income" phrase, coupled with the separate numbers for
    women, men, and families.
    
    							Ann B.
710.71987 World Almanac FiguresWCSM::PURMALYou-ness, me-ness, us-ness, we-nessWed Feb 17 1988 19:2826
    Here are the 1984 figures for "Persons Below Poverty Level" from
    the 1987 World Almanac.
    
    Percent Below Poverty Level
    ---------------------------
     All     White   Black   Spanish origin
    14.4      11.5    33.8    28.4
    
    
    Poverty levels by people per family
    -----------------------------------
    1 person         $ 5,278
    2 people         $ 6,762
    3 people         $ 8,277
    4 people         $10,609
    5 people         $12,566
    6 people         $14,207
    7 people         $16,096
    8 people         $17,961
    9 people or more $20,247
    
    
    51.7 % of the Black Female heads of household are living under the
    poverty level.
    
    ASP
710.8COLORS::TARBETClorty Auld BesomWed Feb 17 1988 21:195
    And I would guess that *very* few of us really have a gut-level
    understanding of just what level of existance (not "life") can be
    supported by such a poverty-level income.
                                                             
    						=maggie
710.9SUPER::HENDRICKSThe only way out is throughThu Feb 18 1988 08:165
    Those figures are sooooo low.  What is taken into account in
    calculating them, though?  $12 K total is a little different than
    $12 K plus medicaid plus food stamps plus subsidized housing.
    
    I am not suggesting that the latter is adequate.
710.10on a slight tangent...NSSG::ALFORDThu Feb 18 1988 08:2320
    This is on a tangent...but just read in this morning's Globe
    an article re: new archeological finds of 100,000 year old
    "modern-man" bones.  Anyway, the interesting part was a single
    paragraph stating:
    
    "This new evidence ... tilts the argument in favor of the notion
    that modern humans had a single point of origin.  This would support
    a recent theory based on biochemical evidence that holds all
    of mankind is descended from a single *AFRICAN* "Eve"."
    (emphasis mine)                                             
    
    All descended from an African Eve,,,yet the Black women of today
    often get little respect, and as seen in many of the previous
    notes, have a very difficult time making ends meet.
    
    Oh well,  that's my tangent...
    
    Debbie
    
    
710.11If the pay were better I'd be a research librarian.WCSM::PURMALYou-ness, me-ness, us-ness, we-nessThu Feb 18 1988 16:1813
    re: .9
    
         It seems as if the dollar value of the government programs
    were not considered in the poverty level incomes.  In another section
    of the book there is the following paragraph.
    
         "The Census Bureau provided estimates of the number of people
    in poverty if the value of selected benefits was included as income.
    The poverty totals would have been lower because of dollar values
    assigned to noncash benefits such as food stamps, school lunches,
    public housing, Medicaid and Medicare."
    
    ASP
710.12I have a pretty blank good idea what it's like3D::CHABOTRooms 253, &#039;5, &#039;7, and &#039;9Mon Feb 22 1988 16:159
    This IS RIDICULOUS!  In high school, we lived below the poverty
    level for a family of 4 (and we were 5), and it was about $6000,
    and that was 15 years ago.  But we got HUD money to buy a house,
    'though we didn't do food stamps (most of our neighbors did).
    You can't get that mortgage funding anymore, and with inflation...
    
    This is preposterous.  I know what it was like at $6K/5 people in
    1973.  I cannot imagine $10K/4 people in 1988.  The poor do just
    get poorer.
710.13CADSE::GLIDEWELLPeel me a grape, TarzanMon Feb 22 1988 19:3820
re Note 711.2  SCOMAN::FOSTER 

>    ... the personal observation of a friend who is convinced that the 
>    white women around her are out to get her because she's black and is 
>    achieving some success in her career. 

Lauren,

I've wracked my memory over this one and I swear I've never seen any 
evidence of this.  

An observation on "affirmative action."

The education world is the sole place I've ever heard people gripe about
affirmative action along with the name of a real individual.  As in, she's
a dreadul teacher, but they won't fire her because she is black /spanish 
/female.  There are actually lots of dreadful teachers, but if the teacher 
is black and dreadful, up comes affirmative action.  (The real reason
dreadful teachers are not fired, or let go, is that the rewards given to
deans and principals have *NOTHING* to do with the teachers they employ.)