Should Black Women Participate In “Slut Walk”?
By Ayize Ma’at
This past weekend New York hosted it’s first SlutWalk, a protest march organized in response to the suggestion that women must mind what they wear in order to prevent sexual assault and harassment. The Toronto based movement is sweeping the globe and has managed to galvanize support and drum up disdain within the black community. In An Open Letter To SlutWalk Organizers From Black Women, several influential black feminist and allies have stated,
As black women and girls we find no space in SlutWalk, no space for participation and to unequivocally denounce rape and sexual assault as we have experienced it. We are perplexed by the use of the term “slut” and by any implication that this word, much like the word “Ho” or the “N” word should be re-appropriated. The way in which we are perceived and what happens to us before, during and after sexual assault crosses the boundaries of our mode of dress. Much of this is tied to our particular history. In the United States, where slavery constructed black female sexualities, Jim Crow kidnappings, rape and lynchings, gender misrepresentations, and more recently, where the black female immigrant struggle combine, “slut” has different associations for black women. We do not recognize ourselves nor do we see our lived experiences reflected within SlutWalk and especially not in its brand and its label.
Now, I completely “get” the reverberating declaration that a woman’s clothes do not give a man license to physically, mentally, emotionally, or verbally violate a woman. I “get” that. But what I don’t get is an attempt to birth a movement based off of a march called “Slut Walk”. According to dictionary.com a slut is: 1. a dirty or slovenly woman 2. an immoral or dissolute woman; prostitute.
A “cause” that is more than worthy of recognition, and is inflammatory enough to turn nearly everyone “on” has unfortunately turned a lot of people “off” because of it’s name…”Slut Walk”. Again I “get” that your clothes don’t give any man license to harass you. Hell, if you walked down the street butter ball naked, NO MAN HAS THE RIGHT TO PHYSICALLY VIOLATE YOU. With that being said, please understand that how you identify yourself and how you present yourself impacts those around you. What type of impact are you having if you’re participating in a “Slut Walk”?
BLAM Fam what do yall think? Are you down with the “Slut Walk” movement? Do you agree with the opposition to the movement?
For all of you women claiming to be so appalled by the use of the term "slut", where the hell are you every time a woman refers to herself as a "Bad Bitch", "His best hoe", "His personal slut", "Queen Bitch", etc.? Don't nitpick, if you gon' be pissed, address all the fucking issues!
I think anyone who wants to be a part of the Slutwalk should, despite race or color. I understand the criticism of the Slutwalk from the historical black perspective, HOWEVER, it is getting really old to keep reading all of these letters in opposition to everything. The creators of the Slutwalk saw an issue and decided to do something about it. There's still time to work things out, be more inclusive and go bigger. I on the other hand, am tired of Black people criticizing everything and not acting upon anything. While there is room to expand the slutwalk to be inclusive of the issues associated with Black women, why didnt the writers of the open letter band together and start something that is more reflective of Black women's experience? So many people want to say "that doesnt represent us" but at what point will they actually work on what does? We don't have to link up with white people all the time, we can do our own thing (then possibly connect down the road). But all the talk with no action is just air.
No self respecting woman or girl would call herself a slut. My sisters, if you wear the title, you'll live the life. Don't complain when what you label yourself is what you become.
Honestly, I don't see the big deal. Why SHOULDN'T black women participate? I get that the word slut has a stigma attached to it, but in this newer generation, we try to take negatives and turn them into positives. When I first heard about it, I was all for it and I still am. Maybe I'm too far removed by how much additional impact the word has with our culture, but I've done some research on our history and I still don't see how it affects us any more than it affects other races and cultures. Sometimes I get tired of our people getting so sensitive about different trends because of our history. It'd be different if it were meant to hurt us or put us down, but we're in a new generation, we're in a new time, and things and meanings change. I would walk in the Slut Walk with absolutely no problem.
My recent post Kevin at Thousandaire Has a Giveaway Going On
part 2 -I do agree with the authors of the open letter, that there is more weight behind the word slut in our history in this country that will be handled by this movement. I do think this force against sexual violence and systematic silencing of victims most be fought on a broader stage and must be encompassing of all. However before we downplay what the "slut walk' movement is doing, we must start at home. How can we argue with women of any color fighting back against the word slut by reclaiming it when Black women call each other ho and bitch openly and with great pride. Black women are are glad to be called ride or die bitches or a money making ho. How can there be any pique at the word slut?
I can understand why women do it and I think Black women have every right to participate if they so choose. The title "slut" in this case doesn't indicate how we see ourselves but rather the idea that only women who ask for it by dressing like "sluts" get raped attacked or touched inappropriately as openly touted by the police officer in Toronto but privately echoed through towns homes and history. We cannot hide from the fact the fact that when women, any women, all women decide to press charges against their attackers it is they who are put on trial and not their attackers. There is still a stigma attached to women embracing thier sexuality and being in control of who touches them and when. There still lingers the idea that any temptation or lust felt by a man is the fault of a woman. In defiance of that idea I applaud my sisters black and otherwise for standing up and participating. I think for many of the younger women participating there is little or nor coloration of history but the fact that here and now women as whole are still treated like second class beings, oppresed by men for whom this act is not about sex but violence and power.
The black girl in the post pic aughta be ashamed of herself. Oh..no, We don't do that. I agree with with open letter from the black women.