Audre
Lorde’s essay is one of so many out there that deal with inequality among black
and third world women by white feminist women that tend to see everything
through their veiled covered eyes. Portraying that their patriarch knowledge of
feminism and minority woman’s oppression is the true understanding and meaning
of that of their own. In other words, it is a need for people who are different
in many ways to be embrace and not just tolerated. “Now we hear that it is the
task of black and third world women to educate white women.” (p. 96) Lorde
wrote, “…survival is not an academic skill. It is learning how to stand alone,
unpopular and sometimes reviled, and how to make common cause with those others
identified as outside the structures in order to define and seek a world in
which we can all flourish. It is learning how to take our differences and make
the strengths. For the master’s tool will never dismantle the master’s house. They
may allow us temporary to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable
us to bring about genuine change. And this fact is only threatening to those
women who still define the master’s house as their only source of support.” In comparison
with the other stories we find similarities telling women not to be cowards and
to stand firm to what they believe in.
In the section And When You Leave
Take Your Pictures With You, oppression and lack of confidence defines all these
women that seem to be in the same situation. “It is not the duty of the
oppressed to educate the oppressor.” (p. 73) Asian American women also suffered
public negative views during world war two. Being an Asian American during war
was a big step to overcome. They were treated unjustly not just for being women
but also for their race. “Asian Pacific American women will not speak out to
say what we have on our minds until we feel secure within ourselves that this
is our home too.” (p. 72) The feeling of not belonging is an experience
everyone faces some time in their lives. Being discriminated and compared to animals
will always bring morale and sense of hope down. “How does one then emotionally
come to terms with racism?” (p. 58) Injustice by the masters who will never
contemplate and accept the wrong doings play a big role.
Latin
women face similar situations as they are treated unfair by Anglo American women
who now nothing about the Latin culture. Just because you see certain shows or
read certain articles doesn’t make you an expert. Minority women have always
been stereotyped by white feminist that don’t take the time and effort to learn
different cultures. “Humildes yet proud, quietos yet wild.” (p. 64) Latin women
and third world women should start developing a feminist movement based on their
realities and priorities in which racism should be a priority. “Racism affects
all our lives, but it is the only white women who can “afford” to remain oblivious
to these effects. The rest of us have had it breathing or bleeding down our
necks.” (p. 58) Our language shouldn’t be a factor in determining who we are. Taking
classes to get rid of our accent does not make us more American. We should be
proud that we speak more than two languages. Racism comes from almost everyone but
we are the ones that have to deal with it at the end. “Who is to say that
robbing a people of its language is less violent than war?” (p. 75) The white supremacist is always
finding ways to stereotype minorities and our language is not safe at all. They
criticize us for not speaking English fluently, for not speaking Spanish fluently,
for making made up languages like Spanglish and calo. These situations should
make us feel oppressed but in reality it boosts our self-esteem to take action.
To find the power and determination to fight for who and what we are.
In
conclusion racism will always be until we find the courage to fight for what is
right. To stop oppression and humiliation
and lift our heads way high with empowerment and support from each other. “It
is time we stop letting the rest of this oppressive society dictate our behavior,
devour our energies, and control us, body and soul. It is time we dealt with
our own energies, and our own revolutionary potential, like the constructive
and powerful forces that they are. When we do act on our power and potential,
there will be a real feminist movement in this country, one that will finally
include all wimmin.” (p. 86)
References:
Anzaldúa Gloria. (1987). Borderlands = La Frontera: the new
mestiza. San Francisco:
Aunt Lute Books.
Moraga Cherríe, &
Anzaldúa Gloria. (2015). This bridge called my back: writings
by radical women of color. Albany: State University of New York Press.
