Welcome to Hear Our Voice. This is a project born from my desire to learn more about the contributions of black women in the United States since the Civil Rights movement. Although all women in the US have experienced some form of sexism, women of color encounter racism, as well. Their voices have been largely unheard by mainstream society. Why? I hope to start a conversation with this blog -- let's talk about this -- let's talk about black women and their struggles with gender and race in the United States.
I am a white woman. I am 43-years-old. I'm sure many of you wonder why I am concerned with this subject. Racism and sexism concern me, regardless of the color of my skin. Black women are important to our society. They make great contributions daily, but how often do we hear about them in the news? I want to understand why I just recently discovered that Shirley Chisholm was the first woman and the first black citizen to run for President of the United States. Not Hillary Clinton. Not Barack Obama. Why had I never heard about Shirley Chisholm? My own ignorance, missing information in the history books, or lack of publicity in the media?
Let's have a discussion about why black women have been silenced in the United States. How does this affect us all, regardless of our gender or race? How many stories have we missed because the powers that be decided they weren't important enough to share? Please join me -- we need to have this conversation.
8 comments:
The media and the government is largely run by white males. So, yes, I think there is a bias against black women. On the other hand, Oprah was given a voice and a show and now is one of the richest and most influential women in America. We are not given all the information when we learn history. We are given all the history writers think we need to know. I suppose we are each responsible to educate ourselves as much as possible. Seeking to know more information, I recently read the book, "Incidents in the life of a Slave Girl", by Harriet Jacobs. I was quite impressed with her vocabulary, and found myself looking up words I was unfamiliar with. I realized this slave girl was probably more intelligent than those who called themselves 'master'. I think intelligent women are a threat to males in general. I think of all the women killed during the times of witch hunts. If they had property or practiced herbal medicine, they were labeled a witch and killed. There are black women who have paved the way for the women today whom many of us have never heard of. The men in power only tell you what they deem important and they will leave out the details of how they lied, raped, and murdered to get to their positions of power.
Hi Angela,
Thanks for the honest feedback. I agree, much has been left out of the history books, including significant contributions made by black women. Oprah is an example of a successful black woman, but sometimes I think she should use more of her influence to confront racism and sexism in the US. Our patriarchal society has definitely created inequality for women of all races and ethnicities. The renewed fight against our reproductive rights is a perfect example!
After interviewing an African American woman in the media, working for a prime time television news station, it was imperative that I keep her comments "anonymous". Once these women have worked their way into a lucrative position, they still have to watch their Ps and Qs in fear of losing their position. One such as Oprah, also, was attacked several times for comments she made. They have to protect their status. The woman I interviewed grew up being told by her mother that she would have to be twice as smart and work harder than anyone else to be successful.
I certainly do not claim to know even a womans plight much less a black womans. But In my humble opinion it comes down to the simple fact that they have traditionally had the fewest resources. In this society unless you have money behind your cause or you can put it in a pretty package for mass media consumption you are for the most part ignored.
Do "we" look the other way, or is it just the media? Marketers have put more African Americans in commercials over this last decade as "target" consumers. In some ways, there has been progress. As a "white folk", are we intimidated by folks of "color"? When I interviewed the African-American woman I honestly told her that I would be afraid some of my questions would sound bigotted, which they did. She took it in stride saying she is "used to it". One such question is, "how do you want to be referred to as, black or African-American?" She said African-American. If we are unfamiliar with those of different races, we ourselves, create a distance out of fear of accidently insulting.
I would wonder why this subject wouldn't create a discussion among some. Is a discussion on race or sexism that intimidating? Being white myself, with mixed heritage including Hispanic and Native American, and of course, the "one" possible African-American in the "wood pile" of many ancestories...do we think nothing of this, do we care, is the topic taboo, such as pay rate in employment, politics, religion? Is it too difficult to speak about if we are not directly affected by it? What makes women's issues so difficult to speak about, regardless of race? I'm almost ashamed in humanity for not being able to comment in some way to help a student strive for a class grade on a "buried" topic. Not to be critical and such, but... even just a few minutes of time to say to Sherri..."well, I've not really thought about it," or maybe, "this does not directly impact me because...". Go Sherri. Do not despair.
I imagine Oprah will indeed be in history books for the current generation. I know she is in many books and school agendas now, because of the many books I've had to read for Culture Studies. Without media and today's technology, Oprah could not have risen as far as she has. Sometimes she did interviews that went against her own moral grain for popularity of her show. Sometimes she had to "ride the fence". In her last season when she revealed more from her past and re-connected with her "roots" or her family, so to speak; she was more than safe...she had accumulated enough wealth to retire. I understand she has continued to do philanthropic works, though. Oprah, Oprah, Oprah. Who else is an African-American woman who has had great success?
Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful comments. I did not receive as many responses as I had hoped for this project, but I think this is a message in itself. There is a refusal in out country to speak honestly about race.
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