In the Wake and its Relevance to Afro-Pessimism - Christina Sharpe

Critical theoretical frameworks like Afropessimism can provide insight into these connections. Afropessimism asserts that anti-Blackness is foundational to society, and that the suffering of Black people is required for the construction of White identity and social order.

One significant work in this field is Christina Sharpe's In the Wake: On Blackness and Being. Sharpe uses the metaphor of a ship's wake to explore the way Black lives are shaped by the lingering effects of slavery's violence and the afterlife of that violence in contemporary society. The wake represents the enduring impact of the Middle Passage, slavery, and systemic racism on Black communities.

Sharpe analyzes the way Blackness is constituted through continued vulnerability to premature death and the everyday forms of racism that pervade social institutions and interpersonal interactions. Her work aligns with Afropessimism in centering slavery and its legacies as organizing anti-Black violence across history. However, Sharpe focuses more on theorizing possibilities for Black life and joy within the wake, exhibiting some optimism against Afropessimism's bleaker outlook.

Overall, In the Wake makes important contributions to Afropessimist discourse and critical race theory more broadly. Sharpe eloquently explicates the way past violences shape current Black realities, and provides a conceptual framework for understanding Black being as resistance against historical and ongoing efforts to subjugate Black life. Her work encourages us to stay wakeful (often referred to as "woke"), bear witness, and find beauty amidst the harsh truths of the wake. (We are sharing a rich treat! The panel, dedicated to Sharpe's work, is accessible at the bottom of this page!)

Examining Sharpe's perspective enriches our knowledge about the roots of racial inequity and violence, and can inform social justice efforts to dismantle anti-Black racism. Her ideas prompt reflection on methods we use to memorialize traumatic histories while affirming Black humanity. In the Wake is an impactful read for Black History Month or any time one seeks to deepen their understanding of race and society.

Below, please see "In the Wake: a Salon in Honor of Christina Sharpe." Let us know your thoughts!

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