Personal Yet Systemic: On Antiblackness as a Social, Historical and Cultural Phenomenon
ANTIBLACKNESS (noun) 1. that which engulfs Blackness with inescapable violence 2. a set of relations that mark and position Blackness as the nadir of sub-human or non-human qualities 3. Structural. Modern. Gratuitous “Slavery and colonialism ushered antiblackness into modernity by
BLACK LIFE AND DEATH: AN ANALYSIS OF ANTI-BLACKNESS
The author reflects on a recent encounter that highlights the pervasive and insidious nature of antiblackness. Standing outside with her six-year-old son, she receives a text from a neighbor expressing distress over the ongoing violence against Black individuals. The neighbor's message, though well-intentioned, fails to acknowledge the specific threat faced by her own son. This disconnect underscores the systemic nature of antiblackness, which operates on a global scale and permeates various aspects of society.
The author describes a subsequent encounter with another white neighbor who, upon seeing the text, expresses sadness and concern for the current state of affairs. The author, however, dismisses her tears and refuses to engage in conversation, emphasizing that the world is different for different people and that there is no "we" in times of crisis. This refusal to empathize further exemplifies the systemic nature of antiblackness, which renders the experiences of Black individuals invisible and insignificant.
The author's own response to the situation is equally revealing. She tosses away a card and flowers from the neighbor, expressing a form of Black catharsis. This act symbolizes the author's rejection of the white racial catharsis that has been invited into their community, as well as her rejection of the sugar that has been disproportionately fed to Black bodies through historical and ongoing oppression.
Ultimately, the author concludes that the incident is indeed an example of antiblackness. The constant, shifting, and global nature of antiblackness is evident in the way it disregards the unique vulnerabilities and experiences of Black people, treating their lives as unremarkable and dispensable. The author's own unease and the systemic nature of antiblackness are on full display in this account, highlighting the urgent need to confront and dismantle this pervasive phenomenon.
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