Obviously, American media has played a significant role in convincing the American people that feminism is born to black culture. Feminist perspectives seem to be captivating black female writers who present black life through the favored feminist ideologies of "black-male-as-brute, black-woman-as-lesbian" (Verner 3) characterization. Some works that have received widespread recognition which either appeased the feminist ethic, or promoting black feminist theories are The Color Purple and The Women of Brewster Place.
Some say the group of black feminists who are willing to operate so far outside of the black culture is lured because the rewards are seductive and considerable for those who are successful. Publishing contracts, high public profiles, tenured professorships, high speakers' fees, power to influence, and white approval all comes with the territory of promoting white feminist ideals.
Possibly, the most organized and committed of black feminists are the organized lesbians. These women have had little if no recognition and virtually no influence as an organized group, however, inside the feminist movement, they are validated and have organized and are flourishing. Often, they find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place feeling that their loyalties are split they're sometimes unable to clearly focus on who their allegiance should be with. They find themselves complaining about white feminist maltreatment then in the next breath defend them against black critics. Whereas, they are willing to take leadership under white feminists and support the feminist agenda; the majority of black lesbian feminists demand to lead non-lesbian/non-feminist black women and promote an agenda for black culture that furthers lesbian feminist ideology.
The black woman's right to cultural independence
