The Joan Little Case Study

“According to Genna Rae McNeil, the Joan Little case illustrates the coming of age of black women during the early 1970s, and demonstrates one of the few instances where black women were able to merge their racial consciousness with their feminist values to overcome their race and class differences and create a sisterhood. Who was Joan Little? What were the specific issues involved in the Joan Little case? What is the relationship between the historical issues of race and sex that fueled the black communities ideological debate over the need to protect black women? How and why did the Little case galvanize black and white women to resist state- sponsored oppression?”
The Sisterhood “Joanne is you and Joanne is me”, this slogan was plastered everywhere, the motive was to suggest to everyone …show more content…
With the help of many organizations, Little was acquitted and set free. Joan Little continued to be an advocate for those who could not speak up for themselves. Although white women were her campaigners, African American women believed that she was the “dramatic symbol” and the Free Joan Little Movement became an appropriate site,—or somewhere where women could come and support one another—this helped raise feminist consciousness and allowed for sisterhoods to strengthen to new levels (275). The Black Power movement was essential and can still be seen today in campaigns like Black Lives Matter. Education is key and placing everything in a historical context is essential, these movements would have never happened if these women did not take on the leadership roles, once not available to them, and stride. Septima Clark, Ella Baker, Gloria Richardson, Fannie Lou Hamer, Angela Davis, and Joan Little all played a key role in supporting the black community and their legacies can be seen today with groups that promote black