A Black Activist’s Guide to Surviving the Women’s Movement

by Marcela Howell, Advocates for Youth’s Vice President of Communications

Walk in My Shoes is a collection of inspirational essays to empower young African American women to become involved in the fight for reproductive justice.

"The women's movement has never been an 'everywoman's' movement. I have always been drawn by its promise of equality, yet continually taken aback by its failure to embrace the very real needs of women of color."
- Marcela Howell

Walk in My Shoes draws on the author's 30-plus years of experience as a Black woman working in the reproductive rights movement. The essays examine the history of African American women in the women's rights movement and provide guidance for young African American activists on: avoiding the pitfalls of becoming the black "expert" in white women's organizations; knowing when and how to assert leadership; building a support base; and setting goals to diversify the movement to meet every woman's needs.

The Essays:

WHY I STAYED

This essay gives a personal account of how I became involved in the women’s movement and what, even in the face of racism, made me stay.

ALL THE WOMEN WEREN’T WHITE - A Historical Perspective

This essay examines the overt racism that was the foundation of the early women’s movement and analyzes how that overt racism has evolved into the subtle racism prominent within today’s women’s movement.

NO, I DON’T KNOW SHIRLEY JOHNSON OF SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA!

This essay examines the phenomenon of the “black expert” present in many mainstream women’s organizations and its impact of African American professionals within the organizations.

ALL MY SISTAHS - Building Your Own Network

This essay discusses the need to build your own support base with women you trust as a critical component to surviving the often rocky terrain of mainstream women’s organizations.

EXHALING: IN SEARCH OF SELF – Setting Goals and Getting There

This essay discusses the need to set clear goals for each position you take in mainstream women’s organizations. There is no such thing as a permanent job and you should take job opportunities that fit into your goals.

FAIR SHAKE OR SHAKIN’ THINGS UP

This essay examines the varying circumstances that sometimes present themselves as barriers, but might really be opportunities. Don’t be afraid to jump into the fray, to take on other responsibilities even if the tasks are not within the scope of your “job description.”

NEW DAY DAWNING - Building a Reproductive Justice Movement for All Women

This final essay asks the question: Is it possible to have a multiracial, multiissue, multi-class women’s movement? What roles would mainstream women’s organizations, women of color organizations, progressive foundations and individual activists have to play to make that happen?