Carleton Student Demo: Carleton U students meet to redefine womanism

Carleton U students meet to redefine womanism

Carleton University's Womyn's Centre is hosting a Fem(me) Talk on womanism as a part of the club's Black HERstory Month event. Students are gathering to discuss how womanism is more than just feminism for black women.

Live coverage of the Carleton University's Womyn's Centre Fem(me) Talk on Feb. 9! Discussion geared towards the redefining of womanism and how it's more than just feminism for black women! Live posts will start in ernest at 7PM sharp!

by hannah.kilby 2/9/2016 9:56:51 PM

3rd & 7 37yd

#blackHERstorymonth at @womyns_centre tonight we have a FemME Talk on (Re)Defining Womanism! 7pm @ @BECAMPS http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CayFq2oUUAEuBvE.jpg

by sydner15 via twitter 2/9/2016 9:57:04 PM
Happy 72nd birthday to Alice Walker! Our Fem(me) Talk tonight on womanism is in honour of you. Thank you! <3 http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CazqPzxW0AAA3l1.jpg

by CU Womyn's Centre via twitter 2/9/2016 10:57:55 PM
Carleton University's Womyn's Centre says on it's Femme Talk event page that "womanist" was defined by the poet Alice Walker (pictured in the photo below). The club's Facebook page says womanism is "a social theory deeply rooted in the racial and gender oppression of black women."

by hannah.kilby 2/9/2016 11:04:10 PM
The welcoming sight at the hallway entrance leading to the BECAMPS room (314 University Centre) where the discussion is about to begin.

by hannah.kilby 2/9/2016 11:58:30 PM
Everything is set. Priority seating to black women near the middle so that they can lead the discussion.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 12:00:46 AM
Three minutes in and the room is already packed with about two dozen people.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 12:04:17 AM
In an interview, programming coordinator for the Womyn's Centre, Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah, says she'd like to hear more black women at Carleton referring to themselves as womanists, She says it is a deeper layer of feminism, existing for black women.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 12:13:48 AM
"We're all here as products" of a dark history, Owusu-Akyeeah says, "and we're here to celebrate it!"

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 12:15:49 AM
Owusu-Akyeeah explains why the Womyn's Centre runs Femme Talk's: to provide feminist talks outside of the classroom.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 12:18:07 AM
Trigger warning issued by the facilitators for potential emotional content.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 12:23:58 AM
Facilitators are reading Alice Walker's poem on womanism to the room, ending with this phrase. Owusu-Akyeeah says it's explaining how close the two terms, feminist and womanist, are but acknowledging that there is a difference.
Photo retrieved from: quotesgram.com

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 12:30:03 AM
Poll taken of the room, from a show of hands, half the room knew what womanism was before today. Another half of the room think they have already learned a lot about the term after only 30 minutes of discussion.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 12:40:24 AM
Three rounds of extra chairs were brought into the room to accommodate the influx of event attendees.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 12:45:01 AM
What is womanism to you?
Dede Ama, co-familitator of the Femme Talk, asks the group. Attendees break off into discussion with their neighbours to synthesize what the term means to them.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 1:00:34 AM
The room babbles with branched off conversations as discussion continues. Attendees are meant to share and compliment each other on their womanism. Laughter and smiles fill the room.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 1:22:13 AM
Bookmarks are left out to direct attendees to the remaining events, more information is available on the Black HERstory Month Facebook event page.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 1:36:59 AM
I want to thank you for your dedication to taking up space! Everything that you do matters! Nothing you do is too small.
Closing remarks by the facilitators to close off the discussion.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 1:42:05 AM
I want to thank you for upholding your blackness, your womanness!

says Dede Ama to a onslaught of applause.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 1:43:18 AM
Often what get's erased in a lot of black history month discussion is what women did to contribute to the liberation of black people or the construction of a positive future.
Owusu-Akyeeah said in an interview about why the Black HERstory Month angle is important to the Womyn's Centre.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 1:57:52 AM
Good Morning Queens! Now let's make things happen! #melaninonfleek #blackherstory #blackculture… instagram.com/p/BBkdtattXbN/

by theofficechic via twitter 2/10/2016 1:58:24 AM
The photo above is an overarching theme discussed during the Femme Talk. The hashtag #blackherstory has a large backing on social media as black women celebrate who they are and their history.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 2:01:39 AM
Discussions dissolve down into a more intimate setting as attendees either leave for the night or settle down on chairs, couches and the floor to talk about why womanism is beautiful.

by hannah.kilby 2/10/2016 2:03:54 AM