Afro-Descendant Lesbians Strengthen Their Identity

Abstract

This piece examines the key necessity of having the Black Lesbian voice within notions of feminism and the ongoing women’s movement. For two long this voice has been marginalized, and along with transsexuals, key insights are lost when this happens. In Cuba today, there is a growing movement of Black Women understanding intersectionality and pushing for the centrality of these voices.

Keywords:

• African diaspora
• afro-feminism
• Alice Walker
• black lesbians
• Cuba
• gender
• sexuality
• womanism

About the Author

Norma R. Guillard Limonta has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology from the University of Havana. She is a member of the Cuban Society of Psychologists and the Cuban Afro-American Women’s Network. She is a Lesbian and afro-feminist organizer.

Notes

1 Alice Walker, In Search of the Our Mother’s Gardens. The Creativity of Black Women in the South, by Alice (Phoenix, Orlon Books, 2005), 231.

2 Ibid.

3 Jurema Werneckl, “Our Steps Have Come from Far Away,” in Jurema Werneckl, Maisa Mendoca and Evelyn C. White, editors, O libro da Saude das mulheres negras: nossos passos vem de longe. (Rio de Jameiro Pallas / Crila, 2000), 62–67.

4 Rubiera Castillo, Daisy Martiatu Terry, Ines Ma. “Afro Cuban Women, History and Cultural Practices” (Ciencias Sociales, 2001).

5 Cheryl Grills. Toweds. African Conference, Slavery, Colonialism, Discrimination, Racism and Psychology. Congreso Hominis. (Havana 2013).

6 Rubiera Castillo, Daisy Martiatu Terry, Ines Ma.

7 Nuria Valera. Feminism for Beginners. (B. Barcelona, 2005).

8 Ochy Curiel. “Essential identities or the construction of political identities”. The dilemma of the black feminists. Third Forum. (Rio de Janeiro 2003).

9 “Use of the Afro Caribbean Woman in Publicity”. Reflections of identity. Presentation in 2000 Caribbean. (Santiago de Cuba).

10 Corneiro Santos, Ana Cristina. Dos Santos Luz, Robenilton. “Black lesbians: Crisis of Representation based on multiplicity of identities” IV Equatorial Meeting of Anthropology and XIII Meeting of Anthropologists from northeast, August 4–7 Fortaleza- CE, 2013

11 Sally Burch. Interview of Ochy Curiel about building political citizenship. “Latin America in movement”. Magazine ALAI, 2011

12 Carneiro Suell. Blackening feminism. The situation of the black woman in Latin America from a gender perspective. International Seminar on Racism, xenophobia and gender organized by Lola Press (Durban, South Africa 2001) http//wwwlolapress.org/artspanish7carns16htm.

13 Bell Hooks. “Straightening our Hair”. Criteria, Cuban Gazette, January-February 2005, number 1, pages 70–73 (English translation. Desiderio Navarro)

14 Ochy Curiel.

15 Ibid.

16 Audre Lorde. Translated into Castilian under the title: “Sister Outsider”. Horas y Horas, 2002. Translator Maria Carniero Fernandez. ISBN: 84-87715-93-1