We have seen how many African Americans across the country reacted to the verdict of the OJ Simpson case. We have also heard many perspectives about how race played into this case and the rising tensions between law enforcement and the black community in LA. While I watched many African Americans - especially women - react so positively to OJ being found not guilty, I could not help but question how these women could stand behind an obvious domestic abuser and raging misogynist. Obviously, I have no room to judge because I am not black and cannot pretend to understand the experience of the black community. But it got me thinking a lot about the interaction between race and gender in our country. Often PoC have to choose to advocate for either gender equality or racial equality, and a number of times racial equality takes priority. A historical example is Fredrick Douglass. Douglass actually set himself apart from the Women’s Suffrage Movement, he put the Black (male) suffrage above Women’s suffrage. Many suffragists claimed he was a sexist, but in reality, he was able to see the racism within in the Women’s suffrage movement. Many suffragists were fighting for the right to vote for white women, not all women. I agree with the argument that in order to receive gender equality, there must be racial equality. The way black women supported OJ is another example of prioritizing racial equality over gender equality.
I agree that Sexism and Racism are similar topics with the same goal in mind. They both have the focus on having equal rights, liberties, etc, and to have these groups be rid of oppression/abuse that comes from inequalities.
ReplyDeleteI think this directs back to the topic of intersectionality where black women feel they have to choose a side of their personality when in fact they don't. Identity politics also comes into play. The idea behind identity politics is whatever part of their identity is being oppressed they will side more with that in response to the oppression. Because this happened so soon after Rodney King, they were probably identifying more with being African American. Also because in the trial they made it so much about the police and racism this came back into play.
ReplyDeleteI think black women chose to cheer OJ Simpson on because it was far easier to celebrate a landmark of progress in racial equality than to address the obviously problematic side of OJ Simpson. He was the poster child of black excellence, a black kid from LA that became so successful he was able to afford the kind of protection he did. I don't think they were ignoring his problematic sides entirely, but they had to pick their battles.
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