A feminist in a dress! Gasp!

Can a black woman be a feminist?

I've been told on more than one occasion that the answer to that question is "No!" Last week I shared my story of being told I can't be a feminist because I'm black in a blog post for Birmingham's NPR station WBHM. When someone tells me, however, that I don't look like a feminist -- and I get that comment a lot -- they usually aren't talking about my race. 

Back when I worked for a weekly lifestyles magazine in Louisville, I frequently wrote articles that might have caused female readers to raise their fists in the air and yell "Girl power!" I quickly became known for as the paper's resident feminist. 

Yet, when a young woman from another department came to our office to discuss an idea she had for a women's empowerment project she went to the female reporter who sat in the cubicle next to mine.  She even said to my colleague, "I know you write a lot about feminism and that it's something very important to you." Everyone in the office, including my colleague to whom she was speaking, stared at her with confused looks on their faces. Then my colleague pointed to me and said, "Javacia writes about women's issues. Not me. You're probably talking about her articles." The look of shock on her face was priceless. 

When this woman came to our office in search the resident feminist she didn't even bother asking anyone to point her in the right direction. She walked directly to my colleague. Did she assume that I couldn't have been the feminist writer because I'm black? Possibly, but I doubt my race had much to do with it. 

My co-worker only wore neutral colors and never wore makeup or heels. She also refused to shave her arm pits or legs. Meanwhile, I was probably sitting there in a floral top, trendy jeans and pumps. I'm sure my eyeshadow was perfectly color coordinated with my outfit and my cubicle looked like the color pink had thrown up all over it. In other words, I'm sure that woman didn't come to me because she didn't think I looked like a feminist. 

Can a woman be both feminist and so-called feminine? Absolutely! And frankly I'm tired of having this conversation. It's getting old, people.

Julia Gazdag recently addressed this topic quite wonderfully in a post for Hello Giggles and in that article referenced a quote from Caitlin Moran who reminds us that "the purpose of feminism isn't to make a particular type of woman." 

Gazdag goes on to say: 

The idea that women cannot express their femininity and be autonomous is really saying that women must emulate men to have a voice, when in fact, the goal of feminism is for every woman to feel empowered as a person instead of feeling gendered.

Amen. 

I believe in the equality of the sexes and this is what makes me a feminist. Period. Writing and empowering other women to write is what I consider my calling and this calling has become my form of feminist activism. The validity of my work should not be questioned simply because the finger tips typing my feminist texts are adorned with fuchsia nail polish. 

Image by Mike Licht via Flickr/Creative Commons

It's Election Day.

As soon as I left work today I headed straight for the polls. There were no lines at my voting site, but I had come armed with plenty to read in case I had to wait. And I was willing to wait, for hours if that's what it took, because since I turned 18 nearly 14 years ago I have always been determined to exercise my right to vote.

I vote because I am black.

There was a time when people with skin like mine were not allowed to step foot in the voting booth. And even after laws changed making their disenfranchisement illegal they still faced one obstacle after another -- such as poll taxes and literacy tests -- as they tried to cast their ballots. This is the history my grandmother recounted to me every time she took me to the polls with her when she voted. And she voted, always -- not just in presidential elections, but every local election too, because she understood those were just as important.

I vote because I am a woman.

We American women have been guaranteed the right to vote for less than a century. This still stuns me.
When I voted today I couldn't help but think of Malala Yousufzai, the 15-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban after gaining international recognition for advocating for girls' education.
Not only are girls like Malala being denied an education but they're being denied a voice. For them speaking out against their government means risking their lives. So how dare I take for granted this opportunity that I have in my country!

I vote because I am an American.

Being born in this country is a privilege. I've always known this but I don't think I realized the gravity of this truth until last Tuesday when I attended an immigration town hall meeting here in Birmingham that was led by undocumented journalist and immigration reform activist Jose Antonio Vargas. Hearing his story and hearing both the love and the pain in his voice as he expressed how much he wants to be an American citizen broke my heart and made me think about how I should show appreciation for my country by being a good citizen. Part of being a good citizen is being an informed voter. So I sat in front of my computer one night and researched all the state amendments that would be on my ballot so I could make educated choices.

This is why I vote. What brought you out to the polls today?

When  I was in my early 20s I kept a little notebook of inspirational quotes and carried it with me all the time. That book would have come in handy last night as I was watching Black Girls Rock.

Black Girls Rock is a non-profit youth empowerment organization that promotes the arts for young women of color. Founded by Beverly Bond, the group also encourages an analysis of the ways women of color are portrayed in the media and hosts an annual awards show that airs on BET. 

The women honored at this year's awards show were offering up so many words of wisdom I could barely keep up as I was scribbling their sage sayings onto any pieces of paper within my reach.

Actress Regina King, who hosted the show with Tracee Ellis Ross, said to the audience at the start of the show, "We can solve any problems when we stand strong and support each other."

Even though Black Girls Rock is mostly about celebrating the accomplishments of African-American women, I believe King's statement applies to all women regardless of race, color, or nationality. When women band together we have the power to bring about change. I believe in the value of community which is exactly why I started See Jane Write.

Kerry Washington
Image by David Shankbone via Flickr/Creative Commons

Kerry Washington, star of the hit ABC show Scandal, was one of the night's honorees. Washington is the first black woman to lead a prime-time serious on a major network in 38 years and is known for playing an active role in politics helping most recently with the Obama campaign.

"True power comes from authenticity," Washington said. "Power come from being yourself."

Janelle Monae
Image by Michael Dornbierer via Flickr/Creative Commons

Janelle Monae, another celebrant at the event, is proof that Washington is right. Monae has made a name for herself in the music industry without changing her style or her unique sound to conform to trends. She was even recently tapped to be a Cover Girl.

"I didn't have to change who I was to become a Cover Girl," Monae said. "I didn't have to become perfect. Perfection is often the enemy of greatness."

She went on to say, "Embrace what makes you unique even if it makes other people uncomfortable."

Alicia Keys
Image by Walmart Stores via Flickr/Creative Commons

Singer Alicia Keys was also recognized for both her accomplishments in music and her foundation Keep a Child Alive, which is dedicated to providing life-saving AIDS treatment and support services to families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

Keys reminded black girls (and women) of this: "Everything that you want to be you already are and you are simply on the path of discovering it."