This is wonderful and I thank you so much. I have never read such a good description of how black and white women have been viewed through history. I am an 87 year old southern woman who grew up in segregation who obsesses over the injustices of slavery and the present state of racism. I had hoped by this time in my life we would’ve made more progress toward reading ourselves of all these stereotypes.
Your writing and phraseology is amazing, your analysis of complicated subjects is always astoundingly informative, eye opening, and provocative, and your perspectives are brutally honest and enlightening.
Yes! I particularly resonated with the dichotomy of the only two stereotypes white people were comfortable to project onto Black women: the Jezebel and the Mammy.
And the way Michelle Obama still gets treated publicly is outrageous.
Historically, “natural” is often what people say when they mean “I benefit from this arrangement and would prefer not to discuss it.”
Oh Gods yes. Alas, you can't teach Intro to Psych, as I did for damn near 30 years, without addressing the Evolutionary Psych Bros™️. This is exactly my complaint about their theory and its primary corollary: it's always been done this way so, by definition, obviously, it is A Good Thing--but so much better stated. I shouted when I read that sentence.
I had known some of this... but not all. And I'd never paused long enough to put it all together. Just Wow! We know that comments like his actually reveal his own feelings of inadequacy and powerlessness; but we also know that the comments take on lives of their own - and those, sadly, have power. I love that and others are putting this all out there where many can read and learn what's really going on. May it empower us to "turn things nightside up again".
That video of Sojourner Truth’s speech is outstanding. I hadn’t heard it before, so thank you.
A really powerful essay and if we think we have it bad as white women, then black women have it worse. Not that it is a competition. Just that, if we call ourselves feminists, then ALL women need to be included.
There’s at least one account on here that is anti feminist and I struggle to get my head around it. As we have said, feminism isn’t about flipping the power dynamics, it’s about caring and helping girls and boys and men and women to be their authentic selves. See what is happening in Mexico:
‘Black women should not have to be soft enough, small enough, quiet enough, pretty enough, modest enough, nurturing enough, or non-threatening enough to have their womanhood recognized. And Black women who are masculine, queer, trans, tall, muscular, loud, angry, disabled, fat, athletic, gender nonconforming, or simply uninterested in performing femininity for public approval are still not available for dehumanization.’
Thank you for laying out the despicable history behind Hokit’s words. Thank you for pointing out the political agenda and racism behind white acceptance of those kinds of words and actions. Thank you for naming the trap.
The fact that Hokit is an embarrassment to true civilization and decency doesn’t change the fact that he’s vomiting up the meal served by generations of others just as bad and worse.
This is wonderful and I thank you so much. I have never read such a good description of how black and white women have been viewed through history. I am an 87 year old southern woman who grew up in segregation who obsesses over the injustices of slavery and the present state of racism. I had hoped by this time in my life we would’ve made more progress toward reading ourselves of all these stereotypes.
It’s maddening that we are still fighting these ideas so many years later.
Wow! I am gobsmacked!
Your writing and phraseology is amazing, your analysis of complicated subjects is always astoundingly informative, eye opening, and provocative, and your perspectives are brutally honest and enlightening.
Wow! Just WOW!
I love your work.
Thank you so much!
Yes! I particularly resonated with the dichotomy of the only two stereotypes white people were comfortable to project onto Black women: the Jezebel and the Mammy.
And the way Michelle Obama still gets treated publicly is outrageous.
Historically, “natural” is often what people say when they mean “I benefit from this arrangement and would prefer not to discuss it.”
Oh Gods yes. Alas, you can't teach Intro to Psych, as I did for damn near 30 years, without addressing the Evolutionary Psych Bros™️. This is exactly my complaint about their theory and its primary corollary: it's always been done this way so, by definition, obviously, it is A Good Thing--but so much better stated. I shouted when I read that sentence.
Excellent article, as always. Footnote #2 made me spit take.
Then my footnotes are working as intended
Thank you!
I had known some of this... but not all. And I'd never paused long enough to put it all together. Just Wow! We know that comments like his actually reveal his own feelings of inadequacy and powerlessness; but we also know that the comments take on lives of their own - and those, sadly, have power. I love that and others are putting this all out there where many can read and learn what's really going on. May it empower us to "turn things nightside up again".
That video of Sojourner Truth’s speech is outstanding. I hadn’t heard it before, so thank you.
A really powerful essay and if we think we have it bad as white women, then black women have it worse. Not that it is a competition. Just that, if we call ourselves feminists, then ALL women need to be included.
There’s at least one account on here that is anti feminist and I struggle to get my head around it. As we have said, feminism isn’t about flipping the power dynamics, it’s about caring and helping girls and boys and men and women to be their authentic selves. See what is happening in Mexico:
https://www.counterpunch.org/2026/06/03/what-claudia-sheinbaum-has-achieved-for-mexico/
Women are not being treated better than men, but the President’s policies are improving every person’s lives.
I used that video every semester in my classes if I had time. So powerful!
Thank you for this!
‘Black women should not have to be soft enough, small enough, quiet enough, pretty enough, modest enough, nurturing enough, or non-threatening enough to have their womanhood recognized. And Black women who are masculine, queer, trans, tall, muscular, loud, angry, disabled, fat, athletic, gender nonconforming, or simply uninterested in performing femininity for public approval are still not available for dehumanization.’
Thank you for laying out the despicable history behind Hokit’s words. Thank you for pointing out the political agenda and racism behind white acceptance of those kinds of words and actions. Thank you for naming the trap.
The fact that Hokit is an embarrassment to true civilization and decency doesn’t change the fact that he’s vomiting up the meal served by generations of others just as bad and worse.
Excellent and thought-provoking article! Thank you for connecting many dots for us!
“Her biceps had breached the Capitol” is sending me 😭