The urgency of intersectionality | Kimberlé Crenshaw | TED

Summary

The speaker uses an interactive exercise to highlight the under-acknowledged issue of police violence against black women, emphasizing the concept of 'intersectionality'. By revealing the disparity in public awareness between well-known male victims and lesser-known female victims of police brutality, the talk challenges the audience to recognize and address the unique challenges faced by black women at the intersection of race and gender.

Takeaways

• 📝 The speaker introduces an interactive exercise to highlight the disparity in recognition of police violence victims based on gender.
• 👥 The audience is asked to stand and remain standing only if they recognize a series of names, revealing a significant lack of awareness regarding black women victims of police violence.
• 🔍 The exercise demonstrates that while police violence against African-Americans and violence against women are discussed, the intersection of these issues is often overlooked.
• 🌐 The speaker has conducted this exercise with various groups, including women's rights organizations, civil rights groups, professors, students, psychologists, sociologists, and even progressive members of Congress, with similar results.
• 🏛 The concept of 'intersectionality' is introduced as a framework to understand how overlapping social problems like racism and sexism create multiple levels of injustice.
• 👩‍💼 The term 'intersectionality' originated from the case of Emma DeGraffenreid, an African-American woman who faced discrimination based on both her race and gender but was denied legal recourse.
• 🤔 The speaker emphasizes the importance of frames in shaping our understanding and response to social issues, noting that without appropriate frames, certain victims' stories are not acknowledged or addressed.
• 🚑 The analogy of an intersection is used to illustrate how societal structures and policies can converge to create unique challenges for marginalized individuals like Emma DeGraffenreid.
• 👮‍♀️ The script discusses the reality of police violence against black women, detailing the various circumstances in which they have been killed, which are often not as widely recognized or discussed.
• 📢 The African-American Policy Forum's initiative to 'say her name' is mentioned as a starting point to bring attention to the lives and experiences of black women affected by police violence.
• 💪 The speaker calls for action beyond just acknowledging the names, urging the audience to bear witness to the realities faced by black women and to work towards change and transformation.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the exercise involving the naming of individuals in the script?

The exercise aims to highlight the disparity in recognition and awareness of police violence victims based on gender, showing that black women victims are often overlooked.

Why does the speaker mention the names of Eric Garner, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, and Freddie Gray?

These names are mentioned to represent African-American individuals who have been killed by the police and are widely recognized, setting a contrast to the lesser-known names of black women victims that follow.

What term does the speaker introduce to describe the overlapping of social problems like racism and sexism?

The term introduced is 'intersectionality,' which deals with the fact that social justice problems often overlap, creating multiple levels of social injustice.

Who was Emma DeGraffenreid, and why is her story significant in the context of intersectionality?

Emma DeGraffenreid was an African-American woman whose claim of race and gender discrimination was dismissed by a judge. Her story is significant because it illustrates the concept of intersectionality and the need for legal recognition of double discrimination.

What is the 'framing problem' the speaker refers to in the context of Emma DeGraffenreid's case?

The framing problem refers to the court's inability or unwillingness to see gender and race discrimination as interconnected issues, thus failing to recognize the unique discrimination faced by African-American women.

Why does the speaker argue that a simple approach to social justice, considering race and gender separately, is insufficient?

The speaker argues that a simple approach is insufficient because it overlooks the unique challenges faced by individuals who belong to multiple marginalized groups, such as black women, and fails to address the compounded effects of intersecting forms of discrimination.

What is the significance of the term 'intersectionality' in addressing social justice issues?

The term 'intersectionality' is significant because it provides a framework for understanding how different forms of discrimination can intersect and compound, leading to unique challenges that are not addressed by considering race and gender separately.

What is the initiative 'Say Her Name' and what does it aim to achieve?

'Say Her Name' is an initiative by the African-American Policy Forum that aims to raise awareness about police violence against black women by ensuring their names and stories are recognized and remembered.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of bearing witness to the violence faced by black women?

The speaker emphasizes this to move from mere recognition to action, encouraging the audience to confront the painful realities of violence against black women and to work towards transformation and justice.

What does the speaker suggest as a collective action to honor the memory of black women victims of police violence?

The speaker suggests a collective action of saying the names of black women victims aloud during a roll call, as a symbolic act of recognition, support, and commitment to change.

How does the speaker describe the various contexts in which black women have been killed by the police?

The speaker describes a wide range of contexts, including in their homes, cars, on the street, and during various everyday activities, emphasizing the pervasive nature of the violence.

Outlines

00:00

📊 Awareness of Police Violence Against Black Women

The speaker initiates an interactive exercise to demonstrate the disparity in recognition of African-American victims of police violence based on gender. By asking participants to stand and then sit if they don't recognize certain names, it's revealed that while names of male victims are widely known, female victims are largely overlooked. This exercise is used to highlight the issue of intersectionality, where the experiences of black women are often not acknowledged in discussions of police violence and gender discrimination.

05:03

🌐 The Concept of Intersectionality

The speaker introduces the term 'intersectionality' to describe the overlapping social injustices of racism and sexism, using the case of Emma DeGraffenreid as a pivotal example. Emma, an African-American woman, faced discrimination in employment that was not recognized by the court due to the court's inability to see the combined effects of race and gender. The speaker emphasizes the importance of framing social problems in a way that includes all members of targeted groups to avoid leaving anyone behind in social justice movements.

10:05

🚨 The Reality of Police Violence Against Black Women

This paragraph delves into the stark reality of police violence against black women, detailing the various ways in which they have been killed and the circumstances under which these tragedies occur. The speaker points out the lack of media attention and communal outcry for these victims compared to their male counterparts, arguing for the need to 'say her name' and to bear witness to the violence that black women face, which is often invisible or ignored.

15:09

📣 Bearing Witness and Moving Towards Action

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need to move from mourning to action, encouraging the audience to bear witness to the lives of black women lost to police violence. A roll call of names is presented, inviting the audience to vocalize these names as a symbolic act of recognition and remembrance. The paragraph serves as a call to action, urging the audience to transform their awareness into tangible steps towards justice and transformation for black women.

Keywords

💡Intersectionality

Intersectionality is a concept that describes the overlapping or intersecting social identities and related systems of oppression, domination, or discrimination. It was first coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, the speaker in the video, to address the specific types of discrimination experienced by black women. In the video, intersectionality is used to highlight the unique challenges faced by black women, who are often overlooked in discussions of both racial and gender discrimination.

💡Police Violence

Police violence refers to the use of excessive or unwarranted force by law enforcement officers. The video script discusses the issue of police violence against African-Americans, emphasizing the often overlooked reality of violence against black women. It points out that black women of all ages and circumstances have been victims of fatal encounters with the police, which underscores the need for broader awareness and action.

💡Awareness

Awareness, in the context of the video, refers to the level of consciousness or knowledge about a particular issue. The speaker notes the low level of awareness regarding police violence against black women, despite the high-profile discussions on police violence and gender discrimination. The video aims to raise awareness about the intersectional issues that black women face.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, sex, or disability. The video script uses the term to describe the systemic bias faced by black women, who are discriminated against based on both their race and gender, as illustrated by the case of Emma DeGraffenreid.

💡Social Justice

Social justice is the concept of creating a society that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, which works to ensure that all members of a society have the same opportunities and are treated fairly. The video discusses the need for social justice frameworks that include all members of targeted groups, such as black women, to prevent them from being marginalized.

💡Framing

Framing, in the context of the video, refers to the way issues are presented or interpreted in the media or public discourse. The speaker argues that the lack of appropriate frames for understanding the experiences of black women leads to their issues being overlooked. The concept of intersectionality is presented as a new frame that can help society see and address the unique challenges faced by black women.

💡Emma DeGraffenreid

Emma DeGraffenreid is an African-American woman mentioned in the video whose case of alleged race and gender discrimination was dismissed by a court. Her story serves as a catalyst for the development of the concept of intersectionality and illustrates the double discrimination she faced, which was not recognized by the court.

💡Racism

Racism is the belief in the inherent superiority of one race over another, which often results in discrimination and prejudice towards people based on their race or ethnicity. The video script discusses racism in the context of police violence and societal treatment of African-Americans, including black women, who are doubly affected by both racism and sexism.

💡Sexism

Sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on a person's sex or gender, typically against women. The video highlights sexism as a form of discrimination that intersects with racism to create unique challenges for black women, who are often excluded from discussions on both gender and racial issues.

💡Say Her Name

Say Her Name is a movement and campaign that aims to raise awareness about the violence and injustice faced by black women. The video script calls for the audience to actively participate in saying the names of black women who have been victims of police violence, as a way to bring their stories into the light and demand justice.

💡Bearing Witness

Bearing witness refers to the act of acknowledging and validating the experiences and suffering of others. In the video, the speaker encourages the audience to bear witness to the violence faced by black women, to recognize their humanity, and to move from mourning to action in seeking transformation and justice.

Highlights

Introduction of an exercise to test awareness of police violence against African-Americans.

The audience is asked to stand if they recognize certain names, indicating a disparity in recognition based on gender.

Names like Eric Garner and Mike Brown are recognized, highlighting the public's awareness of male victims of police violence.

Introduction of lesser-known names of African-American women killed by the police, emphasizing the gender disparity in awareness.

The speaker explains that the audience's lack of recognition is not unique, but a widespread issue.

The concept of 'intersectionality' is introduced to address overlapping social injustices like racism and sexism.

The story of Emma DeGraffenreid is shared to illustrate the origins of the term 'intersectionality'.

Emma's legal battle against race and gender discrimination is detailed, showing the court's failure to recognize intersectional discrimination.

The speaker argues that the lack of a frame for intersectional issues leads to their neglect in social justice movements.

The importance of naming and framing problems to address them effectively is emphasized.

The African-American Policy Forum's initiative to 'say her name' is mentioned as a step towards acknowledging black women's experiences.

A call to action for the audience to bear witness to the violence faced by black women and to move from mourning to transformation.

The presentation of a video roll call of black women's names to honor their lives and raise awareness.

The audience is encouraged to say the names loudly, symbolizing a collective intention to bring these women into the light.

The conclusion emphasizes the need for action and transformation to address the issues raised by intersectionality.

The applause at the end signifies the audience's reception and support for the call to action and awareness.

Transcripts

I'd like to try something new.

Those of you who are able,

please stand up.

OK, so I'm going to name some names.

When you hear a name that you don't recognize,

you can't tell me anything about them,

I'd like you to take a seat

and stay seated.

The last person standing, we're going to see what they know. OK?

(Laughter)

All right.

Eric Garner.

Mike Brown.

Tamir Rice.

Freddie Gray.

So those of you who are still standing,

I'd like you to turn around and take a look.

I'd say half to most of the people are still standing.

So let's continue.

Michelle Cusseaux.

Tanisha Anderson.

Aura Rosser.

Meagan Hockaday.

So if we look around again,

there are about four people still standing,

and actually I'm not going to put you on the spot.

I just say that to encourage transparency, so you can be seated.

(Laughter)

So those of you who recognized the first group of names know

that these were African-Americans who have been killed by the police

over the last two and a half years.

What you may not know

is that the other list is also African-Americans

who have been killed within the last two years.

Only one thing distinguishes the names that you know

from the names that you don't know:

gender.

So let me first let you know that there's nothing at all distinct

about this audience

that explains the pattern of recognition that we've just seen.

I've done this exercise dozens of times around the country.

I've done it to women's rights organizations.

I've done it with civil rights groups.

I've done it with professors. I've done it with students.

I've done it with psychologists. I've done it with sociologists.

I've done it even with progressive members of Congress.

And everywhere, the awareness of the level of police violence

that black women experience

is exceedingly low.

Now, it is surprising, isn't it, that this would be the case.

I mean, there are two issues involved here.

There's police violence against African-Americans,

and there's violence against women,

two issues that have been talked about a lot lately.

But when we think about who is implicated by these problems,

when we think about who is victimized by these problems,

the names of these black women never come to mind.

Now, communications experts tell us

that when facts do not fit with the available frames,

people have a difficult time incorporating new facts

into their way of thinking about a problem.

These women's names have slipped through our consciousness

because there are no frames for us to see them,

no frames for us to remember them,

no frames for us to hold them.

As a consequence,

reporters don't lead with them,

policymakers don't think about them,

and politicians aren't encouraged or demanded that they speak to them.

Now, you might ask,

why does a frame matter?

I mean, after all,

an issue that affects black people and an issue that affects women,

wouldn't that necessarily include black people who are women

and women who are black people?

Well, the simple answer is that this is a trickle-down approach to social justice,

and many times it just doesn't work.

Without frames that allow us to see

how social problems impact all the members of a targeted group,

many will fall through the cracks of our movements,

left to suffer in virtual isolation.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

Many years ago, I began to use the term "intersectionality"

to deal with the fact that many of our social justice problems

like racism and sexism

are often overlapping,

creating multiple levels of social injustice.

Now, the experience that gave rise to intersectionality

was my chance encounter with a woman named Emma DeGraffenreid.

Emma DeGraffenreid was an African-American woman,

a working wife and a mother.

I actually read about Emma's story from the pages of a legal opinion

written by a judge who had dismissed Emma's claim

of race and gender discrimination

against a local car manufacturing plant.

Emma, like so many African-American women,

sought better employment for her family and for others.

She wanted to create a better life for her children and for her family.

But she applied for a job,

and she was not hired,

and she believed that she was not hired because she was a black woman.

Now, the judge in question dismissed Emma's suit,

and the argument for dismissing the suit was

that the employer did hire African-Americans

and the employer hired women.

The real problem, though, that the judge was not willing to acknowledge

was what Emma was actually trying to say,

that the African-Americans that were hired,

usually for industrial jobs, maintenance jobs, were all men.

And the women that were hired,

usually for secretarial or front-office work,

were all white.

Only if the court was able to see how these policies came together

would he be able to see the double discrimination

that Emma DeGraffenreid was facing.

But the court refused to allow Emma to put two causes of action together

to tell her story

because he believed that, by allowing her to do that,

she would be able to have preferential treatment.

She would have an advantage by having two swings at the bat,

when African-American men and white women only had one swing at the bat.

But of course, neither African-American men or white women

needed to combine a race and gender discrimination claim

to tell the story of the discrimination they were experiencing.

Why wasn't the real unfairness

law's refusal to protect African-American women

simply because their experiences weren't exactly the same

as white women and African-American men?

Rather than broadening the frame to include African-American women,

the court simply tossed their case completely out of court.

Now, as a student of antidiscrimination law,

as a feminist,

as an antiracist,

I was struck by this case.

It felt to me like injustice squared.

So first of all,

black women weren't allowed to work at the plant.

Second of all, the court doubled down on this exclusion

by making it legally inconsequential.

And to boot, there was no name for this problem.

And we all know that, where there's no name for a problem,

you can't see a problem,

and when you can't see a problem, you pretty much can't solve it.

Many years later, I had come to recognize

that the problem that Emma was facing was a framing problem.

The frame that the court was using

to see gender discrimination or to see race discrimination

was partial, and it was distorting.

For me, the challenge that I faced was

trying to figure out whether there was an alternative narrative,

a prism that would allow us to see Emma's dilemma,

a prism that would allow us to rescue her from the cracks in the law,

that would allow judges to see her story.

So it occurred to me,

maybe a simple analogy to an intersection

might allow judges to better see Emma's dilemma.

So if we think about this intersection, the roads to the intersection would be

the way that the workforce was structured by race and by gender.

And then the traffic in those roads would be the hiring policies

and the other practices that ran through those roads.

Now, because Emma was both black and female,

she was positioned precisely where those roads overlapped,

experiencing the simultaneous impact

of the company's gender and race traffic.

The law -- the law is like that ambulance that shows up

and is ready to treat Emma only if it can be shown

that she was harmed on the race road or on the gender road

but not where those roads intersected.

So what do you call being impacted by multiple forces

and then abandoned to fend for yourself?

Intersectionality seemed to do it for me.

I would go on to learn that African-American women,

like other women of color,

like other socially marginalized people all over the world,

were facing all kinds of dilemmas and challenges

as a consequence of intersectionality,

intersections of race and gender,

of heterosexism, transphobia, xenophobia, ableism,

all of these social dynamics come together

and create challenges that are sometimes quite unique.

But in the same way

that intersectionality

raised our awareness to the way that black women live their lives,

it also exposes the tragic circumstances

under which African-American women die.

Police violence against black women

is very real.

The level of violence that black women face

is such that it's not surprising

that some of them do not survive their encounters with police.

Black girls as young as seven,

great grandmothers as old as 95

have been killed by the police.

They've been killed in their living rooms,

in their bedrooms.

They've been killed in their cars.

They've been killed on the street.

They've been killed in front of their parents

and they've been killed in front of their children.

They have been shot to death.

They have been stomped to death.

They have been suffocated to death.

They have been manhandled to death.

They have been tasered to death.

They've been killed when they've called for help.

They've been killed when they were alone,

and they've been killed when they were with others.

They've been killed shopping while black,

driving while black,

having a mental disability while black,

having a domestic disturbance while black.

They've even been killed being homeless while black.

They've been killed talking on the cell phone,

laughing with friends,

sitting in a car reported as stolen

and making a U-turn in front of the White House

with an infant strapped in the backseat of the car.

Why don't we know these stories?

Why is it that their lost lives

don't generate the same amount of media attention and communal outcry

as the lost lives of their fallen brothers?

It's time for a change.

So what can we do?

In 2014, the African-American Policy Forum began to demand

that we "say her name"

at rallies, at protests,

at conferences, at meetings,

anywhere and everywhere

that state violence against black bodies is being discussed.

But saying her name is not enough.

We have to be willing to do more.

We have to be willing to bear witness,

to bear witness to the often painful realities

that we would just rather not confront,

the everyday violence and humiliation that many black women have had to face,

black women across color,

age, gender expression,

sexuality and ability.

So we have the opportunity right now --

bearing in mind that some of the images that I'm about to share with you

may be triggering for some --

to collectively bear witness to some of this violence.

We're going to hear the voice of the phenomenal Abby Dobson.

And as we sit with these women,

some who have experienced violence and some who have not survived them,

we have an opportunity

to reverse what happened at the beginning of this talk,

when we could not stand for these women

because we did not know their names.

So at the end of this clip, there's going to be a roll call.

Several black women's names will come up.

I'd like those of you who are able to join us in saying these names

as loud as you can,

randomly, disorderly.

Let's create a cacophony of sound

to represent our intention

to hold these women up,

to sit with them,

to bear witness to them,

to bring them into the light.

(Singing) Abby Dobson: Say,

say her name.

Say,

say her name.

(Audience) Shelly!

(Audience) Kayla!

AD: Oh,

say her name.

(Audience shouting names)

Say, say,

say her name.

Say her name.

For all the names

I'll never know,

say her name.

KC: Aiyanna Stanley Jones, Janisha Fonville,

Kathryn Johnston, Kayla Moore,

Michelle Cusseaux, Rekia Boyd,

Shelly Frey, Tarika, Yvette Smith.

AD: Say her name.

KC: So I said at the beginning,

if we can't see a problem,

we can't fix a problem.

Together, we've come together to bear witness

to these women's lost lives.

But the time now is to move

from mourning and grief

to action and transformation.

This is something that we can do.

It's up to us.

Thank you for joining us.

Thank you.

(Applause)