Respectability politics won’t save you, Gizelle & Wendy (This Black-Ass Life)
Welcome to the 78th installment of This Black-Ass Life! After a particularly good series of Real Housewives of Potomac episodes - like of the best of any Real Housewives franchise, we were disappointed to see that respectability politics showed up center-stage. So we’re here on this Monday that you hopefully have off to kindly remind you that nothing we can do, say or wear can outmaneuver racism. So please breathe and do you!
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I. The Facts
Respectability politics is an attempt to consciously avoid stereotypical negative behaviors associated with a marginalized group in an effort to receive better treatment and achieve social change.
This belief has its origins in turn-of-the-twentieth-century Black middle-class ideology. The idea is that if you follow a protocol of behavior and work ethic, racists would leave you alone, you can lift yourself out of your conditions and even lift others in your group as you rise. Essentially, you can “earn” equality and equity.
If you watch Real Housewives of Potomac (and you should be), then you’re well aware that this thinking has carried itself from W. E. B. Du Bois and the talented tenth through the green-eyed mean girls of RHOP & newcomer cast member Wendy.
As you can already tell, the choice to regulate your behavior for fear of people assuming you’re acting like a bad stereotype isn’t only enforced when you’re one-of-few/one in white spaces but also in predominantly Black spaces. For example, Hampton, and many other HBCUs, and predominantly Black schools will implement hair, dress and behavior codes.
Respectability politics can even be seen in modern politics. Think every time Barack Obama has spoken to a gathering of Black people. Some of his greatest hits include telling Black kids it’s ok if their friends think it’s not cool to be smart, telling graduating students to be good fathers and making a whole organization ignoring America’s systemic racism to tell Black boys (and only Black boys) that they can pull themselves up with a can-do attitude.
Why does it matter?
Respectability politics is a set-up because it blames the denial of human rights on the oppressed. It puts the onus of racism/sexism/all the isms on individual behavior instead of on the oppressor.
It is particularly dangerous because anything bad that happens to an oppressed group or person becomes their own fault. For example:
“Why was her dress so short?”
“Why was he wearing a hoodie at night?”
“What did they say to provoke it?”
“If Black women weren’t so loud, they wouldn’t keep getting hurt.”
What can my Black ass do?
Racists be racist. There is nothing you can do to police yourself and your behavior to satisfy people who already think you less than. You can’t outwork racism.
Systemic racism is devastating to all Black people. Everywhere. In the world.
Cut yourself some slack and free yourself. Know that your degree, how you speak, where you live, who you marry, how you move, the fact that you show up two hours before your team and stay two hours after, how you behave, how you shrink yourself to get through the day, whatever it is that you do in a Black body, none of that changes their ignorance.
Fuck whoever want to deny themselves the pleasure of your company.
ll. Other Things
Mariah Carey is finally in charge of her story.
The way to enjoy Mariah Carey’s new book, if you can, is via audiobook. Trust us.
Please enjoy this baby-themed playlist.
Shout out to 16-year-old Olivia V.G. Clarke who collaborated with other Black girls navigating predominantly white schools to create Black Girl, White School: Thriving, Surviving and No, You Can’t Touch My Hair, an anthology of poems, essays and reflections from contributors ranging from middle-school age to college students
Meg is giving out two $10,000 scholarships to women students of color.
Shout out to the latest round of Black author MacArthur Grantees.
Our Black-Ass song(s) of the week (Mitu):
Every time I am in a bad mood, Escapade lifts me out of it. Thank you, Janet.
Things we are looking forward to / things we are not looking forward to:
I (Jumoke) am so excited to read about Mariah Carey and Derek Jeter getting it in. My teenage self would have loved to know all about how “DJ” fucks and now the elusive chanteuse herself is going to tell me!
I (Mitu) am delighted to listen to Mariah sing-song-read her way through telling her story and FINALLY get the validation I need for Glitter. It’s not bad like y’all think and the soundtrack is FIRE.
lll. Text from a Black-Ass
A reminder to get a flu shot from my (Jumoke’s) mama, who lovingly started harassing everyone in the family to get it in early August.
Stay Black, thrive and get your flu shot! We’ll hit your inbox next on October 12.