A Letter to Sara Brooks Regarding the Unnamed Woman Who is "Sellin' [Her] Own Body"

Dear Sara Brooks and Darlene Clark Hine,

Thank you, Sara, for allowing your life to depict the various methods many black women used to gain autonomy after their migrations to Northern cities.

While the migration of black women to the North gave rise to a greater number of lifestyle options for black women including but not limited to unmarried, higher education, professional, and family lifestyles, some still fell prey to the very evils hidden within their inner culture of dissemblance. One evil in particular that you, Sara, discuss is the continued exchange of sexual relations for money to help offset the costs of this newfound independent lifestyle. However in contrast, you made your living as a domestic servant in Cleveland, Ohio.

In your comments about the unnamed woman who sells her body, I believe you touch on both some positive and negative things. On a positive note, you recognize that the selling of the body is a sign of advancement in the fight for black women's sexual liberation due to the simple fact that black women can now claim ownership over their right to freely engage in sexual activity. However, I feel that at times you can be too critical of or disdainful towards the choices made by the unnamed woman. This critique, although rooted in good intentions, can often times be seen as an over-imposed or toxic sense of morality that can do its part in causing a divide between black women fighting for freedom, especially those struggling to survive in the new environment of northern cities. I believe that a better approach would be examining the roots that cause the unnamed woman to make questionable decisions and working with her on a loving and personal level to help her develop a greater level of autonomy in her life.

In connection with examining the roots of problems, I believe Darlene makes an interesting point when she argues that although black women have gained autonomy in the northern cities, they still "[occupy] an enforced subordinate position within American society [where] this 'sellin' your own body'...[is] rape." Although the selling of one's body in this atmosphere may come with compensation and consent, it is worthwhile to examine whether the consent is actually valid due to the fact that it has been given under duress such as economic desperation and survival.

Sincerely,
Kyle