Clowns in the boudoir: Womanism as post-colonial discourse. A Black feminist response to the Doctrine of Manifest Destiny

The dissertation is a contribution to the larger project of Womanist theory, theology and ethics. Through an exploration of the Doctrine of Manifest Destiny as the imperial Grandnarrative of American Colonial ideology and rhetoric, I focus upon the influence of said narrative as the foil for this discussion. Utilizing a combination of historical social analysis, feminist epistemology and narrative storytelling I draw out the interconnected relationships, texts and social movement influences which ultimately led to the evolution and emergence of womanist theology and ethics.; While exploring the various components and social movement influences, I re-cast the Doctrine of Manifest Destiny in an effort to de construct the breadth of its sway when situated within the context of four (4) historical moments. The principal goal of this writing is to track a series of resistance movements, which, when closely examined point logically to Womanism as the completion of a process that can provide the ultimate challenge to the Doctrine of Manifest Destiny.; Chapter One situates and examines the Doctrine of Manifest Destiny as the Grandnarrative of American imperial ideology. A discussion of the Doctrine's implicit sacredness and overlapping political acceptance is put forth. Chapter Two examines the phenomenon of Black preaching as a counternarrative religio-cultural response to the Doctrine of Manifest Destiny.; Chapter Three takes a critical and deeply historical look at the tripartite relationship between the Black church, the Civil Rights and the Black Power Movements as contemporary responses to the Doctrine of Manifest Destiny. The inherent sexism is also discussed as a precursor to the evolution of the Feminist Movement.; Chapter Four analyses the genesis and influence of the Feminist Movement as a much-needed extension of the Civil Rights and more specifically, Black Power Movements. This chapter is especially helpful if one wishes to examine the sexism of the 3960's and 1970's in America.; Chapter Five provides a chronological history of the emergence of Womanist theory, theology and ethics as the culmination of a resistance process which rests in contradistinction to the Doctrine of Manifest Destiny. Womanism as Post-Colonial discourse brings closure to the discussion insofar as Womanism begs the question, “If those divinely chosen by God were (historically) and (still are) white ruling-class elite property-owning males, then why did God create the Black woman?”...