In a forthright interview published in The Guardian on Saturday, the eternally inspirational Toni Morrison reflects on Obama’s upcoming end of term. And on Hilary Clinton, she says,
I respect and appreciate her. It was difficult in the beginning to choose between her and him. I didn’t want to do the, ‘Which is better? Gender or race?
The matter of choosing, or of being asked to choose whether one’s gender or race is more oppressive strikes a deep chord with me as I know it does with many black women. The reason the question is posed is an example of the “woman is the nigger of the world” syndrome that makes black women invisible. Nothing is more telling of how blindingly myopic the illusions of white and male supremacy are than the question, “Which oppression is worse, sexism or racism?”
The question (or statements that presuppose the question) is usually posed by black men who consciously resist racism, or by white women who consciously resist sexism.
The underlying assumption is that whichever oppression the inquirer too experiences must be worse. Black men cannot fathom that sexism degrades black women as much as racism does, and white women cannot quite grasp how racial oppression can be just as damning for a black woman as sexual oppression is.
My own principle is to not respond to this unproductive and inane question (in the same way I prefer not to respond to any nonsensical questions) but I shall disavow this stance for once to argue the following: [Let us call it the ‘dartboard’ theory.]
When it comes to institutions that intersect with the private sphere – family, social life, traditions, customs, sexuality – the oppressor is most often a black male.
When it comes to institutions that intersect with the public sphere – politics, leadership, the legal system, higher education, professional ladders – the oppressor is mostly white including the white female. Even in African, Caribbean and Latin American countries where the public space is black-led, African and diasporic countries have adopted structures around which the ghost of white supremacy looms.
When it comes to the intersection of the public and private, which is where most of life takes place, such as the institutionalisation of marriage via the legal system, or the enforcement of patriarchal traditions via politics, or the customs of boys clubs bias in academia and so on, the oppressor is like a dart board, black and white.
I’ll leave the rest of that analogous imagery in your “target”.
What do you think?
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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It must be kismet, because I have been reflecting more and more on this very very question over the course of the past several weeks. Perhaps it is because I turned 50 recently? Not sure. But, honestly, for me, it really depends on the day, and on the circumstances. I do, however, think that due to the fact I occupy spaces that are predominately white and female, I feel the effects of racism, more often than not. But, I am also experiencing a fair degree of appropriated white male supremacy through the white women with whom I work.
Since i started thinking of it in this way, as a dartboard, it’s interesting to discover how supremacy and oppression both intersects and diverges in different spaces. Thanks for sharing and sorry to hear. Sigh.
I appreciate how you answered that question. I have been drawn into that discussion several times myself and its always an eye roller. What is your view on how they intersect/feed into each other? What ways can we attack one without disregarding the other? Is it myopic thinking to believe we can’t handle both at the same time?
Hey Aaron. Thanks. We have to take care to understand each separately even as they intersect. And I would hone in on understanding rather than attacking. Understanding something is the golden glove with which to punch it.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but where I’m from (north America) it’s far more complicated. There really is no clear line between each sphere, each one bleeds into the other. Sometimes the oppressor is white sometimes black, sometimes both, sometimes neither, sometimes something entirely different and more often than not no one really knows for sure.
Thank you for your thoughts. I think that it’s more complicated everywhere and it was not my intention to simplify. (Even though of course a short blog like this inevitably does simplify.) Yet while they bleed into one another, often to the point that they cannot be separated, it is useful to at least try to identify the “blood types”. So you can also find the right treatment.
I don’t usually respond either, I suppose my default thinking is ‘woman who is black African’ is my response – if I must answer. Of course, living in the western world, folks always want you to choose race first. It’d not be so bad, if black womanhood didn’t get tossed with a bad rep. #shrugs. I was aware of being a girl long before being a black one. I’m aware that’s likely because I grew up in a black country. So, witnessed sexism and some colourism (though I had no naming language for it) Still, I hear you Minna. Worse part is when both (black men / white women) want you to be for them / their specific gripes. But, forget that the black woman/girl’s experiences are affected by gender and race. Like Siamese twins inextricably tied. It gets tiring and boring at once, and pushes the idea of #alltheblacksaremen and #allthewomenarewhite gotta laugh sometimes.
The Siamese twins imagery is evocative and useful! Thank you.