On Slavery, Shame, Brené Brown, Palestine, Privilege, and Power
On Slavery, Shame, Brené Brown, Palestine, Privilege, and Power
I know, I know. That's quite a lot to unpack. But Toward Liberation is committed to exploring the language that shapes our stories as a powerful and critical component of our liberation. Let's get into it.
Why we need Let Us Descend and more art like it
Over the last decade or so, I have been increasingly concerned about a common critique that Hollywood greenlights too many stories about the period of American enslavement. It has been a growing rumble on Twitter and other places online, the subject of frustration, boycott attempts, and even conspiracy theories.
Separately, but very likely related, is a pushback against the narrative that the period of American enslavement began in 1619 according to the date many historians mark, the date from which the well regarded 1619 Project takes its name. There is ample evidence that there were Africans in North America prior to 1619 however, those earlier instances provided the basis of narratives that minimize the magnitude of the North Atlantic slave trade or, worse, used to suggest Black Americans were never enslaved at all.
A conspiracy theory has emerged suggesting depictions of slavery are cunningly exaggerated and produced as a form of psychological warfare intended to demean the character of the descendants of the enslaved and posit a narrative that Black people are weak and helpless; slave-like if you will. Many of these ideas flourish in groups interested in Black empowerment. While it's pretty apparent why the likes of white supremacists might find interest in denying the impact or existence of American slavery, it is harder to understand why, despite over a couple of hundred years worth of books, research, movies, and other art, some descendants of slavery either minimize or deny it’s existence. In a recent talk with Jesmyn Ward, the moderator acknowledged this by leading with the questions: What would you say to those who question why it was important to explore slavery in Let Us Descend? Those who say, haven’t we talked about slavery enough?
Now, the dismal state of the American education system aside, I believe there's a lesser explored aspect of why Black Americans may distrust the historical record and/or dislike seeing it depicted. To be fair, it is not a question without nuance, as the dearth of Black stories on any topic is undoubtedly a factor when considering why some people want to see more stories exploring not just historical oppression but the breadth of Black humanity in movies and other art forms.
On Shame
“If there is shame in these images, the shame is not ours.”
–Barry Jenkins
It is important to name the discomfort that comes from viewing these narratives. We want to look away from the violence, the brutality. And yet we must remember to place any feelings of shame for the horror of slavery where it rightly belongs, with the oppressor, not with the oppressed. Along with feelings of shame, there is a common narrative peppered with misguided beliefs that enslaved Blacks should have done more to free themselves (when in fact, they resisted far more than is commonly known or shown) or weren't strong enough or brave enough to free themselves (when in fact they not only survived enslavement but were essential to their emancipation). And that is precisely why we need more stories. As Let Us Descend demonstrates there is much complexity, nuance, beauty, and creativity waiting to be explored. Not only are these stories essential to avoiding a repeat of this brutal period of history, but it helps to contextualize the legacy of slavery and its remnants in the systems that perpetuate the injustices and inequality we strain against today.
The shame some descendants of the enslaved feel is simply not theirs to hold. But to get to a place that rejects shame, we must deconstruct and eradicate the white supremacist, patriarchal, settler colonialist, capitalist paradigm that shapes our society and influences how we view power and the lack thereof. More on that later.
Now, back to shame.
It is almost impossible to consider the topic without mentioning social work researcher Brené Brown. Her work over the last 15 years has opened a powerful and influential dialogue. And when it comes to the ancestors of those enslaved shedding notions of shame connected with that history, this quote nails it.
"The four elements of shame resilience:
Name it. Talk about it. Own your story. Tell the story." –Brené Brown
Therein lies the power of Let Us Descend which should be read with a conscious determination to assign any feeling of shame where it rightfully belongs, squarely with those who committed the atrocities and the systems that continue its work. This reckoning is the only path toward our collective healing and liberation.
On Privilege
That said, it is an interesting time to quote Brené Brown who, just last week, released a statement wielding the dangerous sword of privilege in the form of language.
Rife with examples of the same dehumanizing language weaponized against Palestinian people from the very beginning of the war on Gaza, she frames her statement from the lens of the occupying power (Israel). Even in the earliest days of the assault on Gaza, this framing has been repeatedly called out, as the world's eyes have opened to the propaganda campaign that aims to justify Israel's brutality.
Yet, four months later, Brené Brown enters the chat as if the world has not collectively realized, those who hadn't before October 7, that Palestine is and has been an occupied territory and apartheid state. Those previously unaware have come to understand that the nation-state of Israel has spent the past 75 years, since the Nakba in 1948 violently displacing, segregating, ethnically cleansing, brutalizing, jailing, and murdering the Palestinian people.
And yet, Brené follows the familiar script of the most basic propagandist tropes:
"I believe the sadistic violence perpetrated on October 7 against innocent Israelis and the taking of hostages is unjustifiable and indefensible, and all hostages should be returned. I can only believe that Hamas knew that their actions would be filmed and shared. The goal had to be to quash any hope of peace and to sow as much hatred and fear as possible." - Brené Brown
I won't deconstruct all the ways her statement falls miserably short and causes harm. Over the last week, dozens of responses have taken her to task brilliantly including those here and here. But I will note she reserves the term “sadistic violence” only for what happened on October 7 while the brutality of the last four months is described in less harsh terms.
As a whole, the statement is absolutely stunning in its willful, dangerous ignorance and shows itself to be the exact opposite of the "bravery" she champions. But it isn’t surprising when viewed from the lens of privilege and power. Privilege and power will always protect itself.
See the thing about Brené and so many others with privilege: they have found safety, self-satisfaction, and even popularity in speaking out against historical oppression. But it is absolutely low risk to decry atrocities long past. Even lending her platform to uplift Black voices in the George Floyd era of 2020 was nowhere near as radical as it may have seemed. Let the record reflect that many other personalities, celebrities, and corporations made statements that seemed Brené Brown brave but, in hindsight, turned out to be performative responses during a global uprising. And many of those who spoke out profited financially from doing so.
But when it comes to Palestine, history is happening NOW. There is oppression, genocide, brutality—all the ingredients of any historical atrocity that can be named are happening right now, on our watch.
If we are to applaud Brené’s brilliance as a researcher, and to be clear when it comes to shame I have much respect for her work; then she must also be held accountable for failing to even minimally engage the facts with any seriousness. Even worse, and what I suspect is more true, she chose to craft a statement that feigned neutrality while a close look at the language she wields reveals a clear alignment with the oppressor.
Brené and others with privilege, power, and platform, must take them to task for harmful statements, silence, and speaking out only when there is minimal risk. Speaking truth to power and oppression cannot be cherry-picked for convenience. It is essential all* the time, in every situation. There can be no equivocation, especially now when wielding the power of a platform can, responsibly, be used to influence hearts and minds and at least try to help turn the tide against a brutal and unrelenting genocide.
What has been heartening in recent days is the comment section on Brené's website. At now close to 900 comments, the vast majority have called her out, or in if you will, attempting to explain how harmful her attempt at both side-ism is and how anything less than an unequivocal call to end this genocide is unacceptable.
Speaking truth to power and on behalf of the oppressed is always the way toward liberation. And we must recognize that when we center power, whether it's the power we lack presently or historically or the power we hold, it ensnares us in a trap, a trap upheld and perpetuated through the common obstructionists of liberation. As bell hooks, who incidentally Brené Brown has cited as a major influence, would name them:
Imperialist, White Supremacist, Capitalist, Patriarchy.
Please share your thoughts in the comments. And remember to set your reminder to join us on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 at 6:00 PM ET for our monthly discussion. As you read, come ready to share a line from Let Us Descend that made you pause or even gasp. We want to spend time enjoying the luxurious language Jesmyn Ward is so masterful at crafting.
*ps. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention another time Brené Brown failed to speak out. As a faculty member at the University of Houston, she chose to remain silent when the University unjustly removed Alan as Dean in retaliation for his abolitionist views and abolitionist vision for the College and profession. It must be noted, as an endowed faculty member at the College, she was equipped with both power and privilege to speak truth to power and call out the injustice.