Glossary
"We're the Only Colored People Here"
A short story by Gwendolyn Brooks that explores themes of racial inequality, social discomfort, and the psychological impact of being a racial minority in predominantly white spaces in 1940s America.
Example:
In "We're the Only Colored People Here", Maud Martha's brief moments of enjoyment at the movie theater are tinged with the constant awareness of her and Paul's racial isolation.
Ability
Refers to a person's physical, mental, or cognitive capabilities, with societal structures often creating barriers for individuals with disabilities.
Example:
The lack of accessible infrastructure in public spaces can create significant challenges for individuals with varying levels of ability, limiting their participation in daily life.
Audre Lorde
A self-described 'Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet' whose writings profoundly explored the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and class, advocating for social justice.
Example:
Audre Lorde's powerful essays, such as 'The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House,' urge marginalized groups to recognize their collective power and unique perspectives.
Black Feminist Tradition
An intellectual and political movement that critiques the idea that race, gender, and class are separate issues, emphasizing their interconnectedness in shaping the experiences of Black individuals.
Example:
The Black Feminist Tradition challenges mainstream feminism to consider the unique struggles of Black women, who face both sexism and racism simultaneously.
Class
A system of social stratification based on economic status, wealth, income, and social standing, influencing access to resources and opportunities.
Example:
Access to quality education is often heavily influenced by a student's socio-economic class, with wealthier districts typically having more resources.
Gender
The socially constructed roles, behaviors, expressions, and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and gender diverse people.
Example:
In many societies, traditional expectations about gender roles can limit opportunities for women in leadership positions, regardless of their other identities.
Gwendolyn Brooks
A Pulitzer Prize-winning African American poet whose work often depicted the everyday lives, struggles, and resilience of Black Americans in urban settings.
Example:
Gwendolyn Brooks's poetry, like 'We Real Cool,' captures the vernacular and realities of Black urban life, making the ordinary feel profound.
Interlocking Systems of Oppression
This concept describes how various social categories like race, gender, class, sexuality, and ability do not exist in isolation but interact to create unique experiences of oppression and privilege.
Example:
A Black queer woman might face discrimination in housing that is not solely due to her race, gender, or sexuality individually, but rather the combined effect of these interlocking systems of oppression.
Oppression
The prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control, often by an authority or system, leading to disadvantage and suffering for a particular group.
Example:
The Jim Crow laws were a clear example of systemic oppression, enforcing racial segregation and denying basic rights to African Americans.
Patricia Hill Collins
A prominent Black feminist sociologist known for her foundational work in articulating the concept of intersectionality, particularly in relation to the experiences of Black women.
Example:
Patricia Hill Collins's scholarship helped solidify intersectionality as a critical framework for understanding how power operates across multiple axes of identity.
Privilege
A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group, often unearned and based on social identity.
Example:
A person who can easily find band-aids that match their skin tone might be experiencing a subtle form of racial privilege that others do not.
Psychological Impact of Racial Isolation
The emotional and mental toll experienced by individuals who are acutely aware of being the sole or one of the few members of their racial group in a given environment.
Example:
The constant vigilance and discomfort felt by Maud and Paul in the movie theater illustrate the profound psychological impact of racial isolation, even in seemingly mundane settings.
Race
A social construct used to categorize people into groups based on perceived shared physical characteristics, often leading to social hierarchies and differential treatment.
Example:
The historical practice of redlining in American cities disproportionately affected communities based on their race, limiting access to resources and wealth accumulation for generations.
Representation in Black Literature
The portrayal of diverse realities, experiences, and identities of African Americans in written works, often challenging stereotypes and offering nuanced perspectives.
Example:
The rich representation in Black literature allows readers to understand the full spectrum of African American life, from historical struggles to contemporary triumphs, beyond mainstream narratives.
Sexuality
A person's sexual orientation or preference, encompassing their emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction to others.
Example:
Audre Lorde's writings often explored how her sexuality as a lesbian intersected with her race and gender, shaping her unique experiences of both marginalization and empowerment.
Subtle Racism
Forms of racial discrimination that are not overt or explicit but manifest through microaggressions, implicit biases, or uncomfortable social interactions.
Example:
The awkwardness Maud and Paul experience while purchasing tickets in "We're the Only Colored People Here" is an example of subtle racism, where the discomfort is palpable even without direct insults.
Systemic Oppression
The ways in which established laws, policies, customs, and practices within a society perpetuate and reinforce disadvantages for certain groups while benefiting others.
Example:
The historical legacy of slavery and subsequent discriminatory laws created a foundation of systemic oppression that continues to impact wealth distribution and social mobility for African Americans.