Against Western/Imperial Feminisms with Khadija Haynes
Apr 12, 2025
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Khadija Haynes, a tenant organizer, writer, poet, and emcee, brings her Marxist-Leninist perspective to the discussion of feminism's ties to imperialism. She critiques Western feminism for marginalizing Black voices and discusses the historical traumas of racial violence. Haynes emphasizes the need for a revolutionary framework that advocates for the liberation of all oppressed people, addressing the complexities of Black feminism and the silenced experiences of Black men within societal narratives. Her insights urge a reevaluation of solidarity and genuine sisterhood in social justice.
Western feminism is critiqued for its complicity in imperialism, obscuring the struggles of Black individuals and communities.
The historical narrative of Mary Turner illustrates the systemic violence against Black bodies and challenges modern feminist perspectives.
There is a need for an inclusive feminist framework that acknowledges the experiences of both marginalized women and Black men.
Critics argue that liberal feminism favors middle-class women, disconnecting from the realities of systemic change necessary for liberation.
Deep dives
Critique of Western Feminism
Western feminism is critiqued for its complicity in upholding imperialism and failing to represent the struggles of Black individuals. It is argued that Western feminism often relies on colonial logics that obscure the broader context of violence faced by all Black people, including men. This critique highlights the need for a more inclusive understanding of feminism that addresses the experiences of marginalized groups instead of centering a predominantly white narrative. It calls for a revolutionary framework that integrates the liberation of all oppressed peoples rather than maintaining the status quo of white feminism.
Historical Context and Racial Violence
The historical narrative of Mary Turner and her family exemplifies the systemic violence faced by Black communities. Turner was brutally lynched while protesting against the wrongful imprisonment of her husband and was killed while pregnant, an act highlighting the genocidal legacy of racism in America. This horrifying account serves as a vivid reminder of the violence embedded within historical contexts and is utilized to challenge contemporary perceptions of feminism that ignore these brutal realities. The discussion emphasizes the need for feminism to confront its historical roots and acknowledge the pain and violence perpetuated against Black bodies.
Importance of Integrative Feminism
There is a call for feminism that is not limited to Western ideals but is integrative and recognizes the struggles of all marginalized women. This perspective includes acknowledging the violence faced by Palestinian and Black men as part of the broader framework that impacts the fight for gender justice. The podcast argues that feminism should not exclude the narratives and experiences of Black men when addressing patriarchal violence. A more holistic approach to feminism is necessary, one that sees the liberation of all people as interconnected.
Critique of Liberal Feminism
The discussion explores the evolution of feminism into a liberal framework that often favors the interests of middle-class women while neglecting the needs of the broader community. This shift towards a petty-bourgeois feminism has led to a disconnect from the realities experienced by marginalized women and serves corporate interests rather than advocating for genuine grassroots change. Critics argue that this liberal feminism undermines the radical potential of feminist movements by focusing on individual success rather than collective liberation. There is a plea for a return to grassroots movements that prioritize systemic change and support all members of the community.
Historical Misogyny and Black Women's Struggles
The podcast discusses how historical misogyny and the caricature of Black men as rapists have impacted the narrative surrounding Black women's experiences of violence. It critiques the tendency of some feminist discourses to downplay or ignore the violence inflicted upon Black men, which complicates their position within the broader narrative of gendered violence. The episode emphasizes the need for a feminist framework that accounts for the intersectionality of race, class, and gender, rather than reducing complex social issues to simplistic binaries. This requires a thorough reevaluation of how feminism positions itself in relation to Black men and their struggles.
The Dehumanizing Effects of Capitalism
The ongoing discussion sheds light on how capitalism perpetuates systemic violence against racialized bodies, particularly through the lens of sexual violence. The state often disregards the dignity and humanity of marginalized individuals, allowing for the normalization of violence against them. By dehumanizing Black men and women, capitalism enables a culture that supports and justifies such violence while silencing their narratives. This critique serves to point out that any movement, including feminism, that fails to address these dynamics ultimately reinforces the structures of oppression.
Need for Revolutionary Frameworks
Revolutionary frameworks are emphasized as essential for the success of movements advocating for justice and liberation. The episode calls for movements to actively engage in self-critique and to understand that meaningful change cannot occur within existing oppressive structures. It proposes that organizations must be grounded in theory that informs practical action, ensuring that grassroots efforts remain allied with the needs of the community. By focusing on revolutionary practices, the hope is to create a united front that can effectively challenge and dismantle the systems of oppression that perpetuate inequality.
In this episode, we speak with Khadijah Haynes about her recent piece, "A Fetus on the Dirt Road” which offers a sharp critique of Western feminism's complicity in imperialism and its historical roots in racial violence. Haynes argues that Western feminism often obscures the struggles of both Black women and men, relying on colonial and anti-Black logics that fail to address the broader context of sexualized, gendered, and racialized abuses of all Black African people.
We discuss other historical and contemporary critiques of feminism, argue that feminism does not have a monopoly over women’s liberation struggle, and try to offer some clarity on what this might mean for Black feminisms and other forms of feminisms that are trying to encompass a progressive or transformative philosophy. She emphasizes the need for a more inclusive and revolutionary framework that integrates the liberation of all oppressed peoples, critiquing both Western Marxism and feminism for their limitations. We also discuss quite explicitly the sexual violences faced by Palestinian and Black men, challenging the dominant narratives that obscure these experiences—and how the dogmatism and essentialism of Western feminism has more often than not played a role in obscuring these experiences.
Khadija is a tenant organizer in Brooklyn, writer, poet, and emcee. As a Marxist-Leninist, her works centers the revolutionary struggle of oppressed people both in the underbelly of the imperial core and globally.
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