Willie’s
chapter in Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing
ignited something in me as a black woman. It is commonly discussed how black
women face a dual oppression of both blackness and womanhood; however, Willie
has made it evident that a third oppression is present. Willie is a darker
complexioned black woman. Willie’s dark skin makes up her third obstacle in
life. I was unsatisfied with the ending of Willie’s chapter because she relinquished
all the power back to the man, a black man that had been passing a white man.
Willie had been forced to become a single mother, while Robert got to live life
to the fullest with his new family. As Willie smiles at their last
confrontation, “it wasn’t until that smile that she realized she forgave him”
(Gyasi 220). The strength it took to forgive a man that could so easily step
away from his wife and child, and begin a new life built on lies is what
disturbs me. This is the unfairness of colorism.
As
Willie and Robert search for employment as they arrive in New York, Robert is
offered a job as long as his wife is not present to reveal his blackness.
However, when Willie auditions to sing a jazz club, they repeatedly tell her
that she is too dark. Gender again affects her chances at opportunity because “If
you were a man, maybe” (Gyasi 209) she could have been hired to sing regardless
of her dark complexion. If Willie were a darker complexioned man then her complexion
would be irrelevant. This is the unfairness of gender.
Colorism
often goes unacknowledged, but it still has a firm grip on society today. Colorism
does not solely plague black people, but it also plagues other people of color
that try to grapple with white standards of beauty. However, for black women
living in America, I do find it quite problematic. Black woman of a darker
complexion must contend with the blackness, womanhood, and the stigma that
comes with having darker skin. Darker skin has been perceived as evil, unclean,
or unattractive. Darker skinned black men have also been burned by colorism,
because fear tends to increase the dark the black man gets. Colorism does not
solely harm the darker individual but the fairer skinned as well. Colorism has
been another tool used by society to further divide black people. It is
important that the black community sees itself as just that, a beautifully united
and diverse black community.
Race passing becomes extremely important for Robert in his ability to become part of white society and enjoy the benefits of this white society. The intersectionality of being dark and a woman with Willie demonstrates how important both race and gender are in obtaining jobs and respect during this time period. Sadly, colorism and sexism have not disappeared in today's world. Stereotypes with dark skin continue to exist and echo the racism before the civil war. Police brutality has been heavily correlated with this colorism with the shooting of many black males perceived as threats without even having weapons.
ReplyDeleteIn Willie's instance, I completely agree that she experiences not only the oppression of being black and a woman, but also the oppression of being dark skinned. She is unable to obtain jobs because of the prejudice of her dark skin and being a woman.
I would also like to add that black people also perpetuate the problem of colorism. I see it mostly in our generation with this concept of "team light-skin" and "team dark-skin". Why can't we just be team black? We divide our community because people want to associate certain behaviors with a certain skin color. It makes no sense to me because at the end of the day, you are black. I have heard people say, "I don't want to date ____ because she dark skin". The light skinned person is more favored than someone with darker skin and I really struggle to understand why. I appreciate every person of color, regardless of how dark your skin is.
ReplyDeleteThis is something that I have grappled with in my understanding of my place in the black culture. On the inside of our community, we have this feeling to identify oneself as “more black” or “more white” than the other. Like now, the lighter you are the better but when I was growing up the more black you were, the better. What I have a problem with is that in the eyes of a true racist they view all different shades of black as black. So the only way for us to break all these artificial barriers, that were created by the white suppression, is to understand that we all are apart of one community.
ReplyDelete