The Trouble Between Us : An Uneasy History of White and Black Women in the Feminist Movement

Inspired by the idealism of the civil rights movement, the women who launched the radical second wave of the feminist movement believed, as a bedrock principle, in universal sisterhood and color-blind democracy. Their hopes, however, were soon dashed. To this day, the failure to create an integrated movement remains a sensitive and contested issue. In The Trouble Between Us , Winifred Breines explores why a racially integrated women's liberation movement did not develop in the United States. Drawing on flyers, letters, newspapers, journals, institutional records, and oral histories, Breines dissects how white and black women's participation in the movements of the 1960s led to the development of separate feminisms. Herself a participant in these events, Breines attempts to reconcile the explicit professions of anti-racism by white feminists with the accusations of mistreatment, ignorance, and neglect by African American feminists. Many radical white women, unable to see beyond their own experiences and idealism, often behaved in unconsciously or abstractly racist ways, despite their passionately anti-racist stance and hard work to develop an interracial movement. As Breines argues, however, white feminists' racism is not the only reason for the absence of an interracial feminist movement. Segregation, black women's interest in the Black Power movement, class differences, and the development of identity politics with an emphasis on "difference" were all powerful factors that divided white and black women. By the late 1970s and early 1980s white feminists began to understand black feminism's call to include race and class in gender analyses, and black feminists began to give white feminists some credit for their political work. Despite early setbacks, white and black radical feminists eventually developed cross-racial feminist political projects. Their struggle to bridge the racial divide provides a model for all Americans in a multiracial society. Inspired By The Idealism Of The Civil Rights Movement, The Women Who Launched The Radical Second Wave Of The Feminist Movement Believed, As A Bedrock Principle, In Universal Sisterhood And Color-blind Democracy. Their Hopes, However, Were Soon Dashed. To This Day, The Failure To Create An Integrated Movement Remains A Sensitive And Contested Issue. In The Trouble Between Us, Winifred Breines Explores Why A Racially Integrated Women's Liberation Movement Did Not Develop In The United States. Drawing On Flyers, Letters, Newspapers, Journals, Institutional Records, And Oral Histories, Breines Dissects How White And Black Women's Participation In The Movements Of The 1960s Led To The Development Of Separate Feminisms. Herself A Participant In These Events, Breines Attempts To Reconcile The Explicit Professions Of Antiracism By White Feminists With The Accusations Of Mistreatment, Ignorance, And Neglect By African American Feminists.--jacket. Introduction -- 1. Together And Apart : Women And Sncc -- 2. Hope And Anger : Black Women And Black Power -- 3. Learning About Racism : White Socialist Feminism And Bread And Roses -- 4. Alone : Black Socialist Feminism And The Combahee River Collective -- 5. Apart And Together : Boston, Race, And Feminism In The 1970s And Early 1980s -- Epilogue. Winifred Breines. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 203-256) And Index. Acknowledgments 8 Contents 10 Introduction 14 1. Together and Apart: Women and SNCC 30 2. Hope and Anger: Black Women and Black Power 62 3. Learning about Racism: White Socialist Feminism and Bread and Roses 90 4. Alone: Black Socialist Feminism and the Combahee River Collective 128 5. Apart and Together: Boston, Race, and Feminism in the 1970s and Early 1980s 162 Epilogue 204 Notes 214 Index 268 Focusing on white and black women, this book examines the feminist movement to ask why, given the roots of second wave feminism in the civil rights movement, a racially integrated women's liberation movement didn't develop in the 1960s and 70s in the United States.