Presentation Title
Changing the Narrative: A Discourse on Improving the Plight of Black Women
Location
BTSU 315
Start Date
22-2-2019 2:30 PM
End Date
20-2-2019 3:00 PM
Description
I have never seen myself as a spokesman. I am a witness. In the church in which I was raised you were supposed to bear witness to the truth. Now, later on, you wonder what in the world the truth is, but you do know what a lie is. —James Baldwin
The current research for my doctoral dissertation involves investigating the life and work of James Baldwin. One of the most profound ideas that Baldwin discussed was the idea of being a ‘witness’, which involved him holding this country and the rest of society, to a very high standard. With this idea in mind, last semester in my Black Gender Studies class, one of the main elements involved focusing on the historical treatment of women of the African Diaspora in America. After teaching my students on the intersectional nature of the oppression experienced by black women, we then investigated current events to determine whether or not any improvement in their treatment had occurred. Sadly enough, specific, high-profile examples from the media over the last few years, has given us a clear indication that very little progress has been made. This paper will investigate the following items in order to highlight this unfortunate reality, and hopefully, inspire others to create significant change: 1) The media’s portrayal of the #MeToo movement; 2) the vilification of black female politicians Kamala Harris, Maxine Waters, and Stacey Abrams— the Democratic candidate who ran for governor of Georgia in 2018; and the sentencing of sextrafficking victim Cyntoia Brown. Although black women are now the most educated demographic in the country, compared to every other race and gender group, they are still victims of an intersectional oppression. In this current era of instability, it is imperative that we identify and eradicate this problem.
Changing the Narrative: A Discourse on Improving the Plight of Black Women
BTSU 315
I have never seen myself as a spokesman. I am a witness. In the church in which I was raised you were supposed to bear witness to the truth. Now, later on, you wonder what in the world the truth is, but you do know what a lie is. —James Baldwin
The current research for my doctoral dissertation involves investigating the life and work of James Baldwin. One of the most profound ideas that Baldwin discussed was the idea of being a ‘witness’, which involved him holding this country and the rest of society, to a very high standard. With this idea in mind, last semester in my Black Gender Studies class, one of the main elements involved focusing on the historical treatment of women of the African Diaspora in America. After teaching my students on the intersectional nature of the oppression experienced by black women, we then investigated current events to determine whether or not any improvement in their treatment had occurred. Sadly enough, specific, high-profile examples from the media over the last few years, has given us a clear indication that very little progress has been made. This paper will investigate the following items in order to highlight this unfortunate reality, and hopefully, inspire others to create significant change: 1) The media’s portrayal of the #MeToo movement; 2) the vilification of black female politicians Kamala Harris, Maxine Waters, and Stacey Abrams— the Democratic candidate who ran for governor of Georgia in 2018; and the sentencing of sextrafficking victim Cyntoia Brown. Although black women are now the most educated demographic in the country, compared to every other race and gender group, they are still victims of an intersectional oppression. In this current era of instability, it is imperative that we identify and eradicate this problem.