On my more difficult days, I'm not sure what's more of a pain in my ass-being black or being a woman. I'm happy to be both of these things, but the world keeps intervening. There are all kinds of infuriating reminders of my place in the world-random people questioning me in the parking lot at work as if it is unfathomable that I'm a faculty member, the persistence of lawmakers trying to legislate the female body, street harassment, strangers wanting to touch my hair.
In her book "Bad Feminist," Roxane Gay shares her experiences of navigating life as a black woman, highlighting the challenges she faces in a society that often marginalizes her identity. She expresses a sense of frustration as she encounters daily reminders of her societal status, such as being questioned in professional settings and dealing with harassment. These incidents exemplify the unique struggles faced by individuals at the intersection of race and gender.
Gay's reflections emphasize the complexity of her identity and the dual burdens that come with being both black and a woman. Despite her pride in these aspects of herself, she frequently contends with the negative implications that society imposes. Her candid observations reveal the pervasive issues of discrimination and objectification that women of color must confront, illustrating the broader themes of intersectionality within feminist discourse.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
