Kamar O'Guinn
Taking the Back Seat:
A Critique of African American Male Domination and Teleological IdeologiesIn examining the historical struggles of African Americans to gain equality there are several points on this continuum which must be critiqued for they undoubtedly helped shape black identity and set the agenda for revolutionary movements, including the Convention Movement, the theoretical advancements of W.E.B Du Bois and Booker T. Washington and the Civil Rights Movement. At first glance it may appear as if the movements and advancements of thought were teleological in nature, however the thoughts and ideas which were produced, though genius in many aspects, failed in others particularly in terms of the treatment of African American women who were essentially oppressed by the same revolutionary tactics that were developed to liberate their people.
When examining the discourse of the aforementioned movements and social theorists one begins to realize that the dialogues excluded women. In An Address to the Colored People of the United States, from the Colored National Convention of 1848 the opening paragraph starts off as such: "Fellow Countrymen- Under a solemn sense of duty, inspired by our relation to you as fellow suffers under the multiplied and grievous wrongs to which we, as a people, are universally subjected, we a portion of your brethren assemble…to address you on the subject of our mutual improvement and social elevation."
This address is an appeal by men to men about freedom. The message that this disseminates is that freedom fighting was a matter, which should be controlled by men. It further suggests that even though African American women suffered just as much or even more than African American men during the era of slavery they still had nothing relevant to say about the "mutual improvement and social elevation" of their people.
What is interesting is that the ideas that were expressed about freedom during the Convention Movement followed in the same traditions, principles, and ideologies about freedom that were used by the forefathers of this nation when they wrote the Declaration of Independence where it states so boldly that "All men are created equal" and goes on to suggest that men are afforded unalienable rights by birth from the creator himself. Such statements were interpreted in their literal context to mean that women were not birth with theses same rights.
Such rhetoric can also be found in the second resolved statement in the Declaration of the Principles of the National Emigration Convention of 1854, which states, "that man is by nature free, and cannot be enslaved." The Convention Movement failed to critique existing beliefs in regards to gender. By buying into these set norms the movement and those who participated consequently aided in the oppression of women.
During the era of the Convention Movement freedom for black men was equated and expressed through male domination, as well as through their enjoyments of benefits received because of the overt patriarchal practices displayed within the broader dominant culture. African American men were so fixated on gaining rights and freedoms that they were willing to neglect their women in order to obtain it. However, their views about freedom and equality were myopic, for true liberation would only exist if women were included in the process.
Sojourner Truth highlights this very idea when she said, "if my cup won't hold but a pint and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have a half measure full?" Her argument is simple, black men wouldn't obtain rights unless black women obtained them as well. To not be inclusive of women, there concerns and viewpoints simply because of sexist reasoning would be counterproductive to the original cause and would nullify all claims for social equity by making them absolutely hypocritical. Yet Booker T Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, the two most dominate social theorist that arose in the era after the Convention Movement were unable to realized the importance of ceasing to deem the work of freedom fighting as an affair for men and men only.
According to Booker T. Washington the key to African American equality was through labor, industrial and skilled work not through education and politics. What was most important for Washington was franchising business sectors, which would allow for blacks to build a strong economic base. He thought that blacks were aiming too high by setting their aspirations on voting and social equality. In light of this idea he wrote in the Atlanta Exposition Address of 1895: "a ship lost at sea for many days suddenly sighted a friendly vessel. From the mast of the unfortunate vessel was seen a signal: 'water, water, we die of thirst.' The answer from the friendly vessel at once came back, Cast down your bucket where you are."
This message did not pertain to women. It would have been impossible for women to cast down their buckets for they were never given buckets. Women were only provided the mops to clean the mess that men spilled while bringing their buckets on deck. In Washington's metaphor the buckets represented a means for African Americans to improve their condition through industry, business, commerce, and skilled labor fields all of which were denied to women, and this is where the problem lies with Washington's proposed strategy. If African American independence was predicated upon industry they could never be truly liberated if the female sector of the population was denied access to those means.
Du Bois on the other hand believed that African American equality could only be acquired if politics, higher education and economic strategies were combined. Du Bois thought that the African American race would be saved by a group of gifted individuals, what he referred to as the Talented Tenth. He writes "The Talented Tenth of the Negro race must be made leaders of thought and missionaries of culture among their people. No others can do this work and Negro colleges must train men for it. The Negro race, like all other races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men." Du Bois may have been Washington's greatest opponent but they both would agree that men were to be the catalyst of social change not women. Such ideologies would continue through the Civil Rights Movement.
Organizations such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Nation of Islam and the Black Panther Party followed in the same traditions of patriarchy that was practiced during the Convention Movement and suggested in the rhetoric of leaders such as Washington and Du Bois. Though women played vital roles in each of these organizations they were forced to work in the shadows of men and were never allowed to assume leadership positions, which says a lot about the power struggles, that existed at the time.
Whites were oppressing African American males. In order to have some sense of dignity African American males oppressed their women. Though they presumed that they were helping their people by taking control of organizations and functioning in leadership roles, in actuality they perversely affected the future black identity. Because Black men fulfilled leadership positions and refused to let women into those roles they were viewed as domineering. Furthermore this may have impeded progress for who is to say that women would not have done a better job.
It wasn't as if women did not possess leadership capabilities. If Harriet Tubman were intelligent enough to devise strategic tactics to lead herself and an estimated 756 slaves out of bondage she would have certainly made a great leader. History also offers extraordinary women such as Sojourner Truth and Rosa Parks who would have done a fine job leading civil rights organizations such as the SCLC. Women possessed leadership capabilities; men were simply unwilling to forfeit their power positions.
African Americans have certainly made progress in terms of social equality in America but they still have a long way to go. Perhaps their struggles against power structures have been so difficult because of their struggles with power amongst themselves. This struggled existed between Washington and Du Bois but even more importantly it has and continues to exist between African American men and women.
What remains to be seen is if women will assume leadership roles in the next revolutionary phase and if so how this would be received. African American men must realize that for so long African Americans have put all their hopes on the shoulders of men and have thus far not achieved the level of progress desired. If the ideas, stratagems and theories of women are not considered a valued commodity in the next African American revolutionary movement, African Americans will continue to fall short of their ultimate goals. Even worst any steps towards true liberation and equality will only exist as a false facade. For African American equality cannot exist if African American women are continually oppressed by the same organizations design to free them.