CONTEMPT – intersectional invisibility

“We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”

Some may recall this memorable quote from the 1996 American movie “Independence Day”, or recognize it as being a mangled version of Dylan Thomas’s Poem entitled “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” written when his father was losing his sight. The election of 2020 marks another significant time where African American women did not go quietly into the night. African American women refused to disappear without a fight. Sadly, we still cannot celebrate our Independence Day.

Streets clad with people bellowing in harmony as though a long-fought war had just been won. Cheering draped in flags representative of sexual orientation, political ideals and nationalities embraced differences, giving the illusion of solidarity as a nation. The realization is that for every one of those elated citizens another one failed to see how on this day American values appeared reborn. As the dust settles we are still faced with almost one half of the population who refuses to see and accept America for who she is, a diverse sovereign entity. Almost one half of Americans

By Ramsay Cummins

ramsay.cummins@gmail.com witnessed the irreparable glass ceiling shatter, penetrated by the first woman, the first woman of color elected to one of the highest positions of the land, and felt disgusted toward those who don’t share their views. Almost one half of Americans riddled with hatred as their lives are forever changed by the institution of true democracy. Almost one half of citizens failed to see that on this day there was a semblance of hope for all those marginalized.

The year 2020 has proven to be a tumultuous year for all human beings around the globe. There are plummeting stock markets, high unemployment rates, global economic uncertainties, the continued unnecessary slaying of African Americans at the very hands of those sworn to protect and serve. All highlighted by the global epidemic Covid 19. The effect as aforementioned has devastated many. However, the effect on America has been particularly daunting, due to the asunder of the two political parties that threaten the existence of our democracy. There is a saying in the African American community “When America catches a cold, African Americans get the flu”. This represents the compounded effects that we face during times of distress.

The moral compass of America which masqueraded as virtuous and pure was unmasked displaying a fragmented country plagued with intolerance and dissolution. One hundred and fifty million people exercised their right to vote. More than half voted for the president-elect, Joe Biden, carrying over seventy five plus million votes. That seventy five million plus does not negate the fact that more than seventy plus million voted to support racism, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, classism, and religious prejudice. Ninety one percent of African American women voted for presidentelect, Joe Biden. This victory would not have been possible without the African American vote. What is Donald Trump spewing by not going quietly into the night? He delivers a message of illegitimacy and invalidation of the black vote, particularly the African American woman vote. He delivers a message to a culture of people whose lives will remain mostly unchanged by their vote. African American women voted knowing that they will not directly reap the benefit of what they sowed, that they are giving far more than they expect to receive. They voted knowing that in creating a light for others they naturally light their way.

Intersectional invisibility is a conceptual understanding of how Black women are harmed when their experiences of living at the intersection of racism and sexism go unrecognized and go unheard. Donald Trump not accepting electoral defeat is a slap in the face to this population leaving another battle scar symbolizing hate and discord for this community. Our screams go unheard, our tears unwiped, our bleeding hearts disregarded. Yet we, African American women continue to fight to be visible. To the seventy one plus million Americans that voted for Donald trump be warned. We will continue to fight to be seen and to be heard.

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We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! We will have our Independence Day!”