Healing Through Words: How Womanist Authors Shape Racial Harmony

After leaving a small, predominantly white liberal arts institution, Nalini Venugopal was drawn to Rutgers University-Newark for its rich diversity. "I no longer wished to inhabit an environment steeped in white male values," she shared. Initially hesitant about her identity as a feminist due to the absence of relatable figures, Venugopal found solace in womanism at Rutgers-Newark, which highlights the narratives of women of color. Melanie Hill, an Assistant Professor at the university, characterizes womanism as a bold movement aimed at ensuring the survival of all genders within marginalized demographics. Across the nation, universities like Rutgers, Purdue, and George Mason are increasingly implementing courses focused on women of color. Venugopal attributes her profound understanding to her professors' diverse backgrounds, illustrating literature's remarkable power to foster personal development and empathy in the face of societal adversities.