Amazing!! Cal Thomas, “Syndicated Columnist” for Fox News, thinks all black women are angry. All 12+ million of us. Well, okay. Except one.
THOMAS: I want to pick up on something that Jane said about the angry black woman. Look at the image of angry black women on television. Politically you have Maxine Waters of California, liberal Democrat. She’s always angry every time she gets on television. Cynthia McKinney, another angry black woman. And who are the black women you see on the local news at night in cities all over the country. They’re usually angry about something. They’ve had a son who has been shot in a drive-by shooting. They are angry at Bush. So you don’t really have a profile of non-angry black women.
PINKERTON: Oprah Winfrey.
THOMAS: Oprah Winfrey. Yes, there you go, Oprah Winfrey.
Oh. Well, then. As long as there’s Oprah, there’s hope.
Okay, look. None of us are surprised at Fox behaving badly, now, are we? Even if they have belatedly acknowledged that the “baby mama” drama was, to put it mildly, “poor judgment”. Fortunately I don’t have to point out The Stupid here, since Daily Kos has done it so inimitably.
But he asks an important question, which I think bears repeating:
What I’m also shocked about is that this disgusting statement was made on Saturday, and the first time I heard about it was on Dan Abram’s show tonight. And he didn’t provide any analysis or discussion of the statement. Why aren’t all those people who denounced sexism during the primary race up in arms with this racist and sexist nonsense?
Yeah. That’s a good question, isn’t it? Food for thought.
Michelle Obama Watch thought about it too.
The double-whammy of race and gender make Michelle Obama an irresistible target. And the relative silence from Hillary-supporting feminists reveals a serious flaw in the idea that feminists will defend all women.
In all fairness’ sake, as people in the MOW comments pointed out, some of the third-wave feminist blogs (like Feministe) have indeed come out in defense of Michelle Obama, which I’m relieved to see. But it’s hard not to notice that there’s not nearly as much commentary about this in the feminist blogosphere as I saw when there were sexist media attacks against Hillary Clinton. Talk about angry black women — what those Fox pseudopundits really ought to be afraid of is angry white women. They’re kickass, man. I mean, there was just so much furor out there — and rightly so — over the sexism heaped upon Clinton. All the big names of feminism and politics — Steinem, Ferraro, Jong, and more. All women who speak softly and carry big no-phallic-pun-intended-sticks. I’m sure these same women are going to come out guns blazing now that Michelle is getting the same ugly treatment. It’s still sexism, right? Even if it’s compounded by racism. Sexism’s still sexism.
Right? Right? So the defense should begin any minute now. Right?
Oooh, I can’t wait to hear what Rosanne Barr or Linda Hirshman have to say about this. I mean, they’re just so articulate. (And, of course, clean.) Any minute now, I’m sure I’ll see a trifecta of blasts on the Huffington Post and the New York Times and the Washington Post, all from big-name second-wavers who are disgusted, simply disgusted, by Michelle’s treatment.
Any minute now.
…
Any minute.
…
Anyone? Anyone?
…
Bueller?
Behavior like THIS is why I’m done with feminism.
No wonder the patriarchy is alive and well. We’d rather run away and pout than fix things.
Cola, have you read this whole thread? I don’t want to put words in A’s mouth, but as far as I understand the argument: people aren’t “running away” from the struggle against patriarchy, and they certainly aren’t “pouting”; they have plenty of other struggles in hand; they’re withdrawing their energies from the women who have appropriated the word “feminism” (mostly middle-class, white, second-wavers who have a voice in the mainstream media) and who haven’t been behaving as allies in the current situation.
Instead of putting effort into trying to reclaim “feminism” from the narcissist feminists*, or into persuading them to pay attention to intersectionality, A and other posters here are concentrating on their own life-or-death struggles, and on things they can fix. You could call it pragmatism.
*phrase coined by BetaCandy on The Hathor Legacy
Legible Susan, you didn’t put words in my mouth. You said it perfectly.
Additionally, Cola, why should I, a woman of color, be allies to a bunch of white, middle-class women (some of which with total entitlement issues), who don’t want to ally themselves with me? Why should I bother trying to make myself and my issues known to feminists so that they (think) can fight it when in actuality they’re fighting alongside White Patriarchy so that they can retain an exalted status over WoC, but tell us all the while that “We’re for women having equal rights!”
Why is it that they whine and bitch about Hillary Clinton dealing with sexism, but when a fellow woman in Michelle Obama is dealing with both sexism AND racism from the same types of people that wrought sexism on Hillary, they are largely silent? Most of the feminists who are speaking up are people who aren’t big names in the movement.
Why is that people like Amanda Marcotte can appropriate from WoC and get fucking PRAISE, but when WoC call her out on it, as well as use of racist imagery in her book, not only are we generally rebuffed with a shitty “I’m sorry you were offended” apology, but the white men that she claims to be fighting against are the ones who are simultaneously coming to her aid - thinking that they’re being chivalrous. She does nothing more than bask in that shit, and doesn’t even tell them that they need to fuck off.
Why is it that WoC only matter when it comes to feminists wanting to make themselves looks good? Why is it that WoC are only regarded when feminists want something out of us? Otherwise, we’re invisible.
Why treat racism and classism as if they are merely tangental in comparison to the aims that white female feminists must fight for? Only their movement matters, right? Fighting for civil rights for not just WHITE women, but all women is too much to ask for, right?
But yet, WoC are told that we’re pouting when we voice discontent with the White woman’s movement.
We’re told that “YOU NEED TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH US!” and that we’re being divisive. But meanwhile, even though feminism’s shit is RANK in regards to WoC, we need to just realize that our desires mean nothing in comparison to the gains that white women want, and just go along to get along.
This WoC is saying fuck that. You want to know why the patriarchy is alive and well? It’s because too many feminists are alienating those who want to help. It’s because too many feminists are too damn selfish to walk in the shoes of some of their allies. It’s alive because ultimately, feminism has become a movement to fight for scraps at patriarchy’s table instead of trying to work alongside those of us who want to actually dismantle those special privileges that the Rich, White Patriarchy has for the sake of total equality.
So talk that shit about “running away and pouting instead of fixing things” to me another time when you deal with the shit that I have with feminism. Maybe I’ll be a bit more likely to lend you an ear then.
I think Hara was responding to how lots of people are painting Obama as the Son of Heaven all-perfect candidate. God Forbid some critical thinking that doesn’t blindly praise him and Michelle Obama. She flat out told you all she is against the racism and sexism. She doesn’t like the traditional sexist gender roles going on in the limelight. Is she wrong? I don’t think she asked anybody to criticize him more than anybody else- I think she is just asking everyone to keep it in their minds as they get excited about the candidate. It’s something to get excited about, but don’t ignore the obvious sexism of the election.
Kudos to you Hara for not getting catty and calling people names (”troll.”) There are women out there who understand what you’re trying to say.
Also- nobody is talking about McCain on here because he is obviously a total ass and nobody is concerned with deconstructing and/or opposing his statements because it’s expected.
“Where is the outcry that Gloria Steinem, Geraldine Ferraro, and so many other feminists that were angered at the sexism that Hillary and her campaign received when Michelle Obama is getting DOUBLE that ”
As a feminist and woman of color it’s disppointing to me too (not that I have any hope left for someone as atrocious as Ferraro, but other big names) - but you know what? It also made me mad when during the primaries Clinton supporters pointed out sexism and (some) Obama supporters laughed in their faces every time and basically called them whining bitches who should shut their holes about imaginary sexism.
So I can understand why these same women would now respond to the taunts of “Where are you now, girls?” with “Oh, so now you want to hear it? After disrespecting us? Please.”
…one of my comments is in moderation.
In terms of response from feminist organizations, over at the California NOW blog we did a piece on the “baby mama” fiasco when it first happened. We also made a post that included asking people to sign on to the Stop the False Race/Gender Divide petition.
As individuals, many of us are third wave, but we are working within a second-wave organizational context.
I think the silence about the racism + sexism Michelle Obama has experienced is a perfect example of why blacks shouldn’t bother with the mainstream feminist movement. I believe in black feminist but I REJECT mainstream heterosexual feminism. I am not surprised that the NOW Organization or the big white mainstream feminists did not DEFEND Michelle Obama. After all, Gloria Steinem and Geraldine Ferraro were the ones that BASHED Barack Obama claiming just because he is a black man he has MALE PRIVILEGE over all women. Yet Steinem and Ferraro refused to acknowledge the WHITE SKIN PRIVILEGE that white heterosexual feminists HAVE. They refuse to discuss their access to patriarchy and the resources of the white man through the marriage market. They also refuse to acknowledge their contributions to the discrimination against blacks. So no surprise the mainstream feminist organizations ignored Michelle Obama. I hope this is a serious WAKE UP call for black feminists that THINK the mainstream white feminist groups give a damn about black women because they most certainly DO NOT. Steinem and Ferraro only cared about getting ANOTHER WHITE WOMAN into the white house. They didn’t care for Michelle Obama and Barack Obama trying to make history they cared about THEMSELVES.
I also believe white heterosexual feminism is all about the white woman “gaining” the same equal rights of the “white male”. I don’t believe they care about Women of colour or people of colour rights that’s not their MAIN AGENDA. When are people going to wake up and realize mainstream white feminism doesn’t work for people of colour? I can’t believe people are still surprised that mainstream white heterosexual feminism is focused on white women acquiring political and social power for THEMSELVES. They will “USE” blacks and other people of colour to reach their goals but they don’t give a damn about the discrimination we encounter. It is TIME FOR PEOPLE OF COLOUR TO WAKE UP stop waiting for white people to help us we have to help OURSELVES.
ABW: Here it is - almost a month AFTER your post and I still hear the CRICKETS ***********.
As you stated - “Anyone?” CRICKETS******
I’ll check back in a month.
rejecting feminism all together is ridiculous and counterproductive. also, not all white feminists are out to use and abuse you. there are a ton of feminists, white and of-color, who are trying to create a better world.
No. Rejecting Feminism altogether is quite valid considering how fucking awful it has gotten.
You want to talk about the one who have been helpful? Where are they out? Why don’t they ever speak out? What are they doing to not just help out themselves, but Women of Color as well?
OK, wait, backup — I’ve been remiss in watching this thread, or I’d've called this out sooner.
I have met, and heard from on this issue, many white feminists who are outraged about Michelle Obama’s treatment. There are some allies out there. However, they’re mostly third-wavers and small-scale in the big picture of things. My point (if you’ll go back to the OP) was that the biggest and most prominent second-wave feminists — the ones everyone thinks of when we say “feminism,” like Gloria Steinem — are the ones who’ve been conspicuously silent.
I don’t deal in blanket absolutes. I don’t think any of us can do that and make any progress on this or any other issue.
No wonder the patriarchy is alive and well. We’d rather run away and pout than fix things.
Gee, I’d tend to say it’s more because we’d rather make nasty little cracks than listen to each other’s valid criticisms.
I have met, and heard from on this issue, many white feminists who are outraged about Michelle Obama’s treatment. There are some allies out there. However, they’re mostly third-wavers and small-scale in the big picture of things. My point (if you’ll go back to the OP) was that the biggest and most prominent second-wave feminists — the ones everyone thinks of when we say “feminism,” like Gloria Steinem — are the ones who’ve been conspicuously silent.
I don’t think anyone who was really paying attention missed that. Certainly I, as a white middle-class sort of 2.5 waver (I’m younger than most boomers, but technically am one) didn’t feel in any way implicated, and strongly agreed with you. Especially since one would have expected these people (i.e. Steinem and her ilk) to be quick to try to acquit themselves of the implications of racism that had accumulated over the course of their somewhat blind promotion of Clinton’s candidacy — if they really had the ability to be self-critical enough to be concerned about them.
I’m really saddened. Steinem had been a hero of mine — she was once kind to me in a small but meaningful (at least for me) way many years ago, and I’d treasured that. Now I’m sorry to feel she’s not the person I thought she was.
By the way, going way back to the post itself, this just leapt out at me:
Politically you have Maxine Waters of California, liberal Democrat. She’s always angry every time she gets on television.
Incredible. First you only give the woman airtime when she’s pissed, then you blame her for that. Catch-22 FTW!
Isn’t it interesting that whenever a black female asserts her position with a powerful, confident commentary that she is percieved as angry? Not that there is nothing for black women or any person of color to be angry about; but, that assertion is steeped in racism and gender bias. There must come a time that white men or men in general abandon their dismissive attitude and respect all women as people worthy of being heard and respected.
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