I am not ashamed of where I came from; the hood taught me that feminism isn’t just academic theory. It isn’t a matter of saying the right words at the right time. Feminism is the work that you do, and the people you do it for who matter more than anything else.
Mikki Kendall in the introduction of Hood Feminism
Continuing the theme of reading non-fiction books this month, I have read one that has been in my to-be-read pile for a little while. Mikki Kendall’s Hood Feminism is at its core a critique of today’s feminist movement and specifically a critique of feminism that is not inclusive of Black, Indigenous and other women of colour.
In its critique it approaches various issues that affect the day to day lives of such women. From gun violence and hunger to housing and and reproductive justice, eugenics, and maternal mortality. Kendall approaches all of the topics in this book in a writing style that is direct and to the point. The book is talking about reality in language that is easy to understand. It avoids the trappings of academic theory texts which I was appreciative of.
I think this is well worth a read for anyone who considers themselves a feminist and I am glad I read it.
