Medium Post 10/14/20

Prior to reading “Womanist Theology” by Stacey M. Floyd Thomas, I had no idea what the word “womanist” meant nor what womanist theology is. I wondered if womanism would be something along the lines of feminism, but I wasn’t really sure. As I read the piece, not only did I learn about Womanist Theology but also the work of Alice Walker.

On page 44, where Thomas is paraphrasing Walker’s work, there was one phrase that stuck out to me: “Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender.” This Metaphor perfectly encapsulates Thomas’s explanation of womanism as a sect of feminism that is a bit more refined in its ideals. The idea that feminism inherently leaves out women of color, specifically Black women, was not something that I was unfamiliar with. However, I understood it as ‘white feminism’ and that ‘intersectional feminism’ is meant for all women. This text illuminated for me that the word feminist might hold some more weight to it than we think. The word is tied up in an exclusionary past; Thomas may have a point that new terminology is needed.

Another piece of information from the text that stood out to me was the idea that Black women’s stories were central to the practice of Womanist Theology. An emphasis on individual storytelling is rare to see in religious settings- it’s usually on an overarching story or doctrine. But to include Black women’s stories is even more groundbreaking because those are the stories often overlooked. By making Black women’s knowledge the building block of religious worship, Womanist Theology goes against the traditional, patriarchal white church. I would argue this is an act of resistance. After being looked over by the Black Church and white women, Womanist Theology unabashedly announces Black Women’s place and perspective in the world. It rejects the idea that suffering should be the reality for Black women.

#relg102