How We Get Free

In the book, How We Get Free, by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, its main purpose is to speak about the struggles and hardships of black feminism. I personally have never learned about black feminism in previous history courses, nor was it ever talked about during any of my years in school. I never have realized the inequality that black women faced and still have to face to this day. The difference of inequality between African American women compared to white men and women, and even black men is something that is very obvious when you look at statistics of the workforce. Taylor states, "African American women make, on average, sixty-four cents on every dollar made by white men. In real dollars it meant that black women were making, on average, $34,000 a year compared to $53,000 for white men. If we looked even closer, we could see that in Louisiana, Black women were making 43 percent of what white men in that state make" (pg. 3). That alone should show people about the injustices that black women deal with in the society, considering that most of them are a sole provider or main provider for their families. Another topic in this book was talking about the Combahee River Collective, which was a black feminist and lesbian movement that focused on multiple oppressions, such as racism and sexism. The name they chose is a tribute to Harriet Tubman, and the Combahee River raid. This group was one of the first to attempt to make a change on this type of issue, and was an important group during the civil rights movement as well in the 1970's. They also knew that when they began this movement, their biggest struggles would be against racism, sexual, heterosexual, and class inequality. I believe that black feminism and The Combahee River Collective should be included in the curriculum for high school history lessons to educate students on the importance of the oppressions that African American women live with. 

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