Dear Anita

Dear Anita Hill,

You are not alone.

Women of color stand united with you in the reality that intersectionality is woefully unrecognized. Through your trial, Elsa Brown emphasized even more to me that thinking that sharing the same gender or race means sharing the same narrative allows “privileged voices to have center stage.” Societal entitlements allowed people then and now to neglect what forms others’ experiences. Our identities are shaped by not only our surroundings, but the soul-carrying bodies and the skin we inhabit.  Elsa Brown clearly articulates that your defense and many of your supporters failed to recognize sexual harassment and assault in the context of a black woman, which in turn failed you and hopes of progression in understanding black women. Not only were you stripped of your identity as an accomplished woman, a Yale law graduate, and professor, but of being black and female through a taxing trial. I can’t but feel not only sympathy but outrage over the constant challenges we as women of color face with misunderstandings and lack of acknowledgement of our histories.

Your experiences and responses as a black female were overlooked. Brown expressed what you and as well as many have undergone through the following thought process: “As a newly minted [black female] professional…you are expected to represent success.” Anita, I as a young black woman, have constantly been reminded throughout my life, explicitly and implicitly,  the importance of not only obtaining success, but to also do so for the next generation to accomplish even more. I cannot fathom confronting the sexual assault of employer on a national stage, despite “making all the right moves”. Your endurance for your success, like many black women’s is a sacrifice for your descendants and progress. Yet, without the understanding of this sacrifice, you were misunderstood and underestimated in terms of initially withholding your experiences as victim. I wish I could say we as a society have evolved to understand each other better, but you know as well as I do that the struggle of seeing eye to eye is enduring. This past election has reiterated that struggle. The key to recognizing the diverse voices and perspectives of our world is not concrete, but to me includes increasing platforms and having audiences willing to partake in conversation and storytelling. To become more united, we have to learn more about our differences, otherwise we alienate and undervalue members of society, as you were Anita. Justice for you and other women has not come to fruition, but your stories must be retold to push others to continue the fight for equality, understanding, and accurate representation. You will not be forgotten.

Sincerely,

Sydney