Georgetown College’s Student–Run Newspaper
February 8, 2017
Volume CXXXVII Issue 3
African–American women continue to battle discrimination on two fronts Part Two in a four–part series on Black History in its modern–day context By BAILEE BOGGESS Opinion Editor
Due to America’s historically patriarchal culture, important female figures’ lives and accomplishments are often diminished or simply not brought up at all in our national conversation. This is particularly true for African–American women who have been placed on the backburner for hundreds of years. Throughout the history of the United States, black women have been viewed as less than black men, who already find themselves low on the totem pole of American society. Up until the mid–nineteenth century, when slavery was abolished, black men and women were viewed as property, bound to serve against their will, with women valued for their ability to produce more slaves. As time passed, their stature grew. When the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, African–Americans were finally granted many free-
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doms that they had long been denied. However, this did little for black women. They were still limited on their voice and involvement in their communities. Even though women gained the right to vote in 1920, black women’s voices were still being silenced. Even today, in 2017, there is evidence that African– American women are being treated differently. Pay in the workplace is an indicator of unequal treatment. A study conducted by the National Partnership for Women and Families revealed that African–American women make 60 cents on the dollar compared to a white male. This statistic means that in a 40–year career, a black woman will lose approximately $877,480 due to the difference in pay compared to what a white man will make (bustle.com). Another disturbing fact is the rate of black women who are incarcerated compared to that of Caucasian women. African–Americans, as a whole, are already at a higher
risk of being arrested and charged with a crime and they are frequently given a harsher sentence. As of 2014, the number of black women in prison was six times higher than the number for white women (bet.com). This is a cretical problem in our society that demands more attention. However, a large obstacle that stands in the way of fixing this problem is the stigma around fighting for an agenda that challenges the status quo. The recent women’s march in Washington D.C. is a prime example of how passionate the female community is about making a change. But even though there were a plethora of women united together, political ideals divided the crowd. Heavily driven by the controversies surrounding the recent election and racial tensions that have risen in the past months, black women felt that there was a strong separation between them and white women in the crowd.
Angela Peoples, the leader of GetEQUAL, an LGBTQ advocacy group, commented on how to build a bridge between those who are not a part of a minority group and those who are: “Go to Black Lives Matter protests and be aware of your privilege. Don’t try to talk over it and add to it. Understand what your role is as an ally and a supporter and a comrade. That will build trust among women of color” (usatoday.com). The question that arises seems obvious: how can we fix the problem of inequality for black women? It starts with advocacy during Black History Month to raise awareness of problems that pollute our society. By making people notice the struggle of oppression within our country, change can begin almost immediately. Black women have been struggling for decades, but always seem to be forgotten. Rosa Parks, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Serena Williams, Tina Turner and countless others have been prime
examples of strong women. Each one has contributed something monumental to society, and has had a huge impact on the lives of girls and women across the country. However, perhaps one of the most recognizable names currently promoting women’s rights, especially African– American women’s rights, is Michelle Obama. During her time as First Lady, she promoted women’s equality by creating Let Girls Learn to empower girls across the country. She also exemplified poise and demonstrated how to act when attacked by vicious comments. For example, Beverly Whaling, a mayor in West Virginia, called her an “ape in heels” (forbes.com). Instead of retorting, she handled the situation with poise. These inequalities cannot be allowed to continue. We must keep fighting for equality and pushing for our voices to be heard. Only through advocacy and awareness will a change be made.
41 men join fraternities on Bid Day page 2
Matt Ryan’s mediocrity exposed in SB LI page 4
Galvin’s opens new downtown location page 7
Grrr... Band hosts fundraising dinner page 9