The Meaning Of “Crunk,” As Explained By A Feminist Collective

For the Crunk Feminist Collective, its namesake is a call to action. This week, the group explained the ontological and etymological roots of the word "crunk" in a blog post/manifesto that does Audre Lorde proud.

First off, the collective outright rejects the portmanteau of "crazy" and "drunk" as an urban legend. Instead, it interprets the word as a past participle of "crank," an onomatopoeic imperative to turn up the volume on being: "Crunk Feminism is feminism all the way turnt up! Feminism that is off the charts. Feminism that is lived out loud. Feminism that demands to be heard."

And, why is it important for a collective of people of color to get turnt up? "To be black or to be non-white in the West is to live in a world that expects us to live in a state of being turned down, unobtrusive, inconspicuous, ornamental. We are to both turn down and tone down. Our presence is loud even when we are completely silent."

It's a bold rejection and re-approriation of a term that we all know, but far fewer could comfortably use in earnest. Check out the rest of the manifesto here. (CFC)