Mikki Kendall
Mikki Kendall
Full Name and Common Aliases
Mikki Kendall is a renowned American author, journalist, and speaker known for her thought-provoking writings on feminism, racism, and social justice.
Birth and Death Dates
Born in 1985, Mikki Kendall's exact birthdate remains private. Unfortunately, there is no recorded information about her passing.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Kendall is an American national with a multi-faceted career as a writer, journalist, and speaker. She has written for various publications, including The New York Times, Ebony, and HuffPost.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in the Midwest, Mikki Kendall developed a strong sense of social justice from her parents. Her mother, an African American woman, instilled in her the importance of empathy and activism. Kendall's father, of Indian descent, encouraged her to explore different cultures and perspectives. This diverse upbringing laid the foundation for her future work on intersectional feminism.
Major Accomplishments
Mikki Kendall has made significant contributions to the literary world with several notable works:
African American feminist writing: Her debut book, 'Am I Doing That?: How to Have Meaningful Conversations About Race and Gender', received critical acclaim for its unflinching exploration of racism and sexism.
Bestselling author: Kendall's second book, 'Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot', became an instant bestseller upon release in 2020. This work delves into the complexities of intersectional feminism and challenges readers to re-examine their understanding of social justice.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Mikki Kendall's most notable works include:
Blogging on racism and sexism: Her blog, 'Hood Feminism', has been a platform for her writing on topics like body image, police brutality, and white privilege.
Keynote speaker and panelist: As a prominent voice in the social justice movement, Kendall regularly delivers keynote speeches and participates in panels at conferences and events.
Impact and Legacy
Mikki Kendall's impact extends far beyond her written works. Her contributions to the conversation on intersectional feminism have:
Inspired new voices: By sharing her experiences and perspectives, Kendall has empowered others to speak out against racism and sexism.
Shaped public discourse: Her writing has challenged readers to re-examine their assumptions about social justice movements.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Mikki Kendall's influence can be attributed to:
Unapologetic honesty: She fearlessly tackles complex topics, refusing to sugarcoat difficult truths.
Intersectional approach: By acknowledging the interconnectedness of racism and sexism, Kendall provides a nuanced understanding of social justice issues.
Quotes by Mikki Kendall
Mikki Kendall's insights on:
It’s time to treat domestic violence and hate speech as the neon red flags they are and take the necessary steps to reduce the risks instead of hoping that they’ll go away.
Mainstream, white-centered feminism hasn’t just failed women of color, it has failed white women.
Feminism as a career is the province of the privileged; it’s hard to read dozens of books on feminist theory while you’re working in a hair salon or engaged in the kinds of jobs that put food on the table but also demand a lot of physical and mental energy.
For women of color, the expectation that we prioritize gender over race, that we treat the patriarchy as something that gives all men the same power, leaves many of us feeling isolated.
Politeness as filtered through fragility and supremacy isn’t about manners; it’s about a methodology of controlling the conversation.
Hunger has a lifelong impact, shaping not only someone’s relationship with food but also their health and the health of their community. Hunger, real hunger, provokes desperation and leads to choices that might otherwise be unfathomable.
There’s nothing feminist about having so many resources at your fingertips and choosing to be ignorant. Nothing empowering or enlightening in deciding that intent trumps impact. Especially when the consequences aren’t going to be experienced by you, but will instead be experienced by someone from a marginalized community.
But the peculiar impact of white fragility on the dynamics between white women means that too often mainstream white feminists get hung up on being polite at the expense of being effective.
Now mainstream feminism has to step up, has to give itself to a place where it spends more time offering resources and less time demanding validation. Being an accomplice means that white feminism will devote its platform and resources to supporting those in marginalized communities doing feminist work.