Aspects of Evans’s article on Spiritual Empowerment in Afro-American Literature reminded me of the discussion we had in Monday’s class about Black authenticity. Evans writes, “The danger which stalks this second moment in religious affirmation is that the Afro-American self may have receded before full definition had been reached, and that the subsequent influence of the group may prevent any significant challenges to the collective will” (8). Evans goes on to note that the Afro-American “community” has actually come to be represented by the “functionally regulative” Afro-American male community, thereby excluding Afro-American women from the progress made, to some degree.

What interests me is the position this divide puts any “movement” in. No matter how specific the title of a movement is (The Queer Hispanic Women of America’s Movement, for instance), there will always be several someones who occupy the outskirts of norm. Is it more beneficial for those in the background to regroup and form their own movement? Or does that harm the goal of whatever the marginalized have in common with the mainstream? In context, should there now be a Black Women’s Movement and a Black Men’s Movement? Should there be a separate Just Plain Black Movement? Obviously, there is a reason that the QHWAM broke away from the Women’s Movement; so when does the reason for secession become not obvious? Moreover, what effect does secession have on the goals in common?