Black Women Resisting Erasure
Introduction
On Wednesday, March 29th, an important virtual panel took place, hosted by the African American Policy Forum (AAPF) and moderated by Beverly Guy-Sheftall of Spelman College. The panel featured renowned scholars Kimberlé Crenshaw (Columbia University/UCLA), Cathy Cohen (University of Chicago), and Evelynn Hammonds (Harvard University).
The discussion centered on an issue that has plagued the academic world for centuries: the erasure of Black women's voices and contributions. The urgency of this conversation was heightened earlier this year when the College Board released a revised version of the AP African American Studies (AAS) curriculum that censored, excised, and suppressed the thinking, writing, and activism of Black women.
In response to this erasure, a global coalition of nearly 5000 leading academics, authors, and advocates released a letter condemning the silencing of Black women, Black feminism, and intersectionality in the revised AP AAS curriculum. The panel aimed to address how the ability to theorize and produce knowledge by Black women, girls, and femmes, who were "never meant to survive," has always been contested and under threat.
The Erasure of Black Women's Voices
Black women have always faced the double burden of racism and sexism. Despite the odds stacked against them, they have made significant contributions to academia, culture, and social justice.
Yet, their voices have often been marginalized or entirely silenced. This erasure is not limited to the AP AAS curriculum; it permeates academic institutions at all levels. Black women have been forced to fight for recognition, making their struggle to be heard a central theme in their academic careers.
The Importance of Intersectionality
The term "intersectionality," coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, is central to the discourse around Black women's erasure. It highlights the interconnectedness of different aspects of identity, such as race, gender, class, and sexuality, and how these factors interact to shape a person's experiences.
Intersectionality is crucial because it allows Black women academics to challenge the dominant narratives that often ignore or flatten their experiences. It provides a framework for understanding how the erasure of Black women's voices is both a racial and gendered issue.
Strategies for Resistance
Black women academics have developed a variety of strategies to resist erasure. These strategies are not only a form of resilience but also a testament to the enduring strength of their voices and ideas. Here are some of the ways they are reclaiming their space:
Amplifying Their Voices: Black women academics are increasingly using digital platforms, social media, and public engagement to ensure their voices are heard. They create blogs, podcasts, and videos, challenging traditional academic spaces and making their work accessible to a wider audience.
Mentorship and Community Building: Building supportive networks is vital in academia. Black women academics actively mentor and support other aspiring scholars, creating a community that can offer guidance and encouragement.
Writing Their Own Narratives: Black women academics write books, articles, and essays that tell their stories and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of history and culture. They challenge the dominant narratives that seek to marginalize their experiences.
Advocacy and Activism: Many Black women academics engage in activism both within and outside of their academic roles. They use their platforms to advocate for social change and address issues like racial and gender inequality.
Intersectional Research: By focusing on intersectionality in their research, Black women academics actively challenge the biases ingrained in academia. Their work reveals the interconnectedness of different aspects of identity and offers more comprehensive solutions to complex problems.
Conclusion
The erasure of Black women academics and their contributions is a deeply rooted issue in academia. It's a problem that reaches far beyond the revised AP AAS curriculum.
The virtual panel hosted by AAPF and the subsequent global coalition's response is a testament to the ongoing struggle to be recognized and heard. Black women academics are not only surviving but thriving in an academic landscape that often seeks to diminish their presence. Their strategies for resistance, rooted in intersectionality, amplification, mentorship, narrative writing, and activism, are the means by which they reclaim their space and ensure their voices are never silenced again.
The fight against erasure continues, and it is essential that we all join in this endeavor to amplify the voices that have been marginalized for far too long. We’re sharing the video entitled ‘Black Female Voices: Who is Listening.” We hope you enjoy this video featuring bell hooks.
The Misogynoir to Mishpat (M2M) Research Network (c) 2023