Eloquent Rage: overpoliciing of Black women

Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper is a powerful book filled with self reflection and insight of the many nuances and details that make up black feminism. The chapters speak candidly about growing up with white female friends, Black fury, the queerness of Black feminism, patriarchy and make hubris, and so much more. It is a book that should be read by men and women, and conversations about the content may just be the equalizer necessary to start an honest dialogue based in truth rather than conjecture. Here are some of the highlights from our summer book chat (and there will be another in the fall).

“Such an enriching experience, the book, Eloquent Rage was available, doable, moving and more for me, on many levels.” (Marie)

The book talks were comprised of all women and that made for even more honest and revealing chats. One of the themes mentioned is, “The pattern, in which Black girls are labeled and disciplined for acting ‘disrespectful or agressive’ with adults.” Alex connected this to when Cooper speaks about people reading her mere presence in the room (as a large Black woman) as agressive, and when she points out that, “folks are far more concerned with how Black women carry the baggage than with reducing the load hoisted upon us in the first place” (122). More conversations with the adults at school about this behavior is just as important as speaking with our students. And please stop thinking that a higher self esteem and self worth will ever erase the superpower of patriarchy.

Cooper spends much of the book connecting this work and ideology to her own life and relationships. It’s not all about individual choice. “If you buy 100% into the philosophy that your choices create your future, you’re blinded to the ways in which your choices arise from restriction, as we talked about yesterday—and you also end up feeling ashamed of yourself instead of getting angry about racism and patriarchy.” (Alex)

There is also a great deal of focus on relationships between women. The ability to embrace and truly love one another is a queer concept, and as Black women we have to fully take that in or else we will always have incomplete relationships with each other. “I did not realize how much distrust has been a part of the relationships of women (period). It is a major process to overcome. And we as children do not realize how much we are affected by our environments and societal influences and expectations” (Robin). This also spills over into into the chapter titled, Grown Woman Tbeology which speaks openly about sex and intimacy. The ability to give and receive intimacy and sex. This is also connected to Black female identity and worth. It is also linked to patriarchy and vulnerability. The first being the large noose constantly waiting for us and the other, which allows us to truly experience womanhood in a real, healthy, and authentic manner.

In the chapter, Orchestrated Fury, Cooper brings to light the overpolicing of Michelle Obama. How she was scrutinized for her wardrobe and always her tone. Is she angry? Why does she show her arms? The constant expectations for her to conform, knowing that no matter what she did it would never be enough. And the fact that she constantly defied expectations by always choosing to be her self while dodging the media’s bullets. “I thought about my sense of self and how I present myself in my profession of predominately white female teachers. Actually, I love wearing dresses. Like Michelle and her ponytail and it gives me a sense of power and direction. I feel that this power helps me to direct my young female students or students that identify female. They need to see a woman who is assured and confident. I want to share that confidence with my students” (Peggy).

All of these conversations and insights made me realize just how Black women are often silenced and rendered invisible. Despite the “strong Black woman” mythology, there is always patriarchy to render most success or any forward steps mute. But, the power is how we work with each other. Black women working and loving each other. And it’s  also not a bad idea to gather with some other folks and pick up this book and have a necessary and vibrant conversation.