This Woman Thing

From my own observations and experiences, I know that women have a difficult time getting along with other women. Add race to the mix, and things deteriorate dramatically.
As women, in general, we tend to get along to get along. Underneath, however, the level of trust, respect and honesty feels inadequate. Race is always a contentious issue. If we speak of race we are suddenly outcasts. The fact remains that white and Black women, on most issues, are miles apart. White women have limited knowledge of Black oppression and history, and for that matter, the history of women of color (WOC). Any interest seems superficial. On the one hand, appreciative enough to be curious and to appropriate culture. On the other, never fully accepting differences or extending support. WOC have defined and limited roles in mainstream life. Racism limits their acceptance and advancement. Tokenism - having only one to continuously promote and objectify, limits and keeps other WOC at bay, stifling any criticism of racism. The gains WOC have made were attained by mass protests, petitions, civil unrest and violence. White women's movements though having had to resort to such drastic measures to be seen and heard, now rely on those powerful and privileged white women within their ranks to champion their causes. They often solicit the support of WOC to plump up the numbers. However, while they may provide empathy, they rarely, on the whole, use their voices to support the advancement and equality of WOC on their particular issues.. I've observed that professional white women react to WOC in ways that make us feel inferior. The list of racist behaviour is long and well-documented. I believe, in general, white women react to WOC favourably because of laws and their need to fulfill new norms like diversity, and only because it's been forced upon them and it's politically correct. The same overt racist behaviour we see towards women of color in the United States is covert behaviour here in Canada, raising doubt that it even exists. The oppression of Black women is not new. Movies like Gone With the Wind or more recently, The Help, exemplifies our separate place in society. There is a divide. White women have created movements, but fought mainly to improve their own well-being. They've ignored the plight of other women, particularly Muslim women. Black Lives Matter has met as much resistance from white women as white men. The #MeToo movement is basically and almost exclusively about the violence against white women. Black bodies are being violated and murdered and yet their focus is mainly on obtaining justice for themselves . The U.S. election in 2016 showed that the divide between white women is based on class, politics, religion, economic and geographical concerns. Their race was not listed as a factor. Black women are affected by the same dynamics including the burden of their skin color. Because women share the majority of these factors, it would stand to reason, that they should unite us, but instead, they divide us further. Within the Black community, Black women face another huge hurdle. Black women continually pit themselves against each other. We seem to have a real and inherited dislike of one another. Personal friendships work well as long as you stay in the same lane and not try to rise above the others. We have bonding issues and inabilities to support and stay focused on issues that would break down racial oppression. We allow others to choose our heroes, the ones they find acceptable to their conscience and repressed roles throughout history. This reduces our singular narrative about skin color, worthiness, history and any accomplishments. We try too hard to be pleasers, to fit in. to stand out as not being like other Black women. We tend to accept the status quo and norms that violate our very being. We must not raise their voices. We must subvert out potential, in other words sing back-up to those less talented. We must blame the victims as violators of civil rights. All Women face an uphill battle. Men mobilize. They protect their autonomy. They use their wealth, privilege, supremacy and entrenchment to ensure women adhere to traditional subjugation. The fight is real in everyday life. For many women, the struggle is so demanding they only have time and energy to worry about themselves. White women will come together for basic grievances like sexual assault or injustices that may affect them directly, but not for the rights for WOC. They are left on their own to fight, even against the resistance within their own numbers. Being a minority, their numbers are low at best rendering them ineffective. The thing about women is that unity is an almost impossible ideal. Sister to Sister
Can we -
Weave a tapestry of love that
Flows from continent to continent,
Dances in the rhythms of our one mother—
Africa?

Sing our sultry jazzy low-down blues
In sophisticated banter, in sharp notes married to
Our estranged journeys through
Time?

Exhale in the common tongue of sister talk,

Speak in tones of respect and
Look past the creamy-white, honeyed-tan and richly-ebony
Buffet?

Can we redefine the feminine beauty that

Surrenders under the skin touch,
Lip artistry and straight, crimped or coiled
Hair?

Smooth a legacy writhing under blurred vision,

Free thoughts smothered in muffled fear,
Dry anguished tears trickling into empty
Bowls?

Defeat violence that leaves its

Left-overs to the wind in corners where
Minds are numb, ears do not hear nor eyes
See?

Can we sisters of courage

Raise our arms in solidarity,
Lift our sister voices and speak
And elevate and grow as One?

- Burlap and Lace - Gloria Ann Wesley  © 2007

We Love Viola

An ad like the one following drew a rather sad response and got me thinking about Black heroes and how we acknowledge Black contributions to our progress from slavery to hopefully, one day - equality. "The North End Business Association (NEBA), along with several North End Halifax organizations, citizens, and partners, are hosting "Viola Desmond Vendors Market."  Celebrate Viola - a celebration in recognition of the 10 dollar bill release, and Viola’s legacy as a businesswoman and "the mother of the Canadian Civil Rights Movement." The mother of the Canadian Civil Rights Movement? I mean really, this should be hair-raising. Is the Viola Desmond Adoration Society moving beyond common sense and respect for other Black achievers? Consider this: In 2010, a book was published about her life entitled Sister to Courage. She received a pardon in 2010 from Lieutenant-Governor Mayann Francis and an apology from Premiere Darrell Dexter, both recognizing her conviction was a miscarriage of justice. In 2010, the Viola Desmond Chair in Social Justice was established at Cape Breton University. In 2012, Canada Post issued a postage stamp bearing her image. A Heritage Minute relating Desmond’s story was released during Black History Month in February 2016. The Viola Desmond, a harbour ferry, was named after her in 2016. In 2017, Desmond was inducted to Canada’s Walk of Fame under the Philanthropy & Humanities category. A section of street in downtown New Glasgow, N.S., was named Viola's Way in honour of Viola in 2018. A new homeless shelter, called Viola's Place, was opened in a former church in New Glasgow, N.S. in 2018. And on Nov. 23, 2018, Desmond will appear on the face of the $10 note. Is this going over the top? My point is, as we continue in our celebration of this beautiful woman of color, the story grows to exceptional proportions. Perhaps, this is how historical figures become icons, but as we've learned, our selections may eventually reveal the truth. Not to disparage Viola's contribution, but there were others before her (Dr. Carrie Best and Calbert Best) arrested for sitting downstairs at the Roseland Theatre, obviously because of the New Glasgow theatre's policy, there had to have been others. And, consider the segregation policy at many theatres across the province, as well as in schools, trades/professions and restaurants, as the norm.
The truth is, in Canada, we've never had a Civil Rights Movement even remotely similar to that in the U.S., so we insist on creating them. We now have a comparable "Canadian" Rosa Parks that is in no way a match, if you research the background and contributions of this dynamic American activist. In fact, to do so is to diminish Rosa. For one thing, provincially, when Blacks advocated for civil rights, they suffered the curse of division. The lack of unity to enable the movement to go forward hindered its progress. Secondly, people formed groups and organizations, made up of both men and women, diabolically opposed to each other. No one leader could lead the charge. As seen with Dr. King and Malcolm X, thinking in the Black community is not uniform. For another, the shear number of Blacks limits our ability to have an actual movement of like minds.

The fact that we had a significant movement, the Nova Scotia Association for the Advancement of Colored People, not just one singular person, is overlooked. The NSAACP took up Viola's case, yet get little recognition for championing civil rights. They provided her representation in court and achieved a settlement. The truth is community activism did not run parallel to Viola's business endeavors. She did not, as far as I've researched, belong to, create or lead a movement. This incident was not part of a long sustained effort on her part to fight for the rights of other Nova Scotians as she left the province after the case was resolved. My points are: We project our fantasies and need for great heroes onto anyone, without doing adequate research to gather the facts and quietly go along with whomever is chosen. Secondly, we let others determine for the Black community who the heroes are that we should support. Thirdly, we have people in the community who have dedicated their lives to making our path easier to walk and they do not get their due when one person receives all the credit. And lastly, not to diminish what Viola accomplished or endured, but let's not exaggerate, honour and dramatize this event beyond what was humanly bearable. We have Blacks who accomplished great things and endured far more scrutiny and harassment. Blacks who've dedicated their lives to elevating Black people. Let us consider realistically the requirements for "hero" and celebrate a variety of achievers. There are many notable Nova Scotians we should recognize, educate others about and love: Richard Preston, Portia White, Rose Fortune, B.A. Husbands, William Pearly Oliver, Carrie Best, Pearline Oliver, Rocky Jones, Mayann Francis, Daurene Lewis, Calvin Ruck, Walter Borden, George Elliott Clarke, Kirk Johnson, David Downey, Sam Langford, Sylvia Hamilton, Elizabeth Cromwell, Wanda Bernard, Brad Barton, and Irvine Carvery, just to name those who come quickly to mind.