Reconstructing Inclusion by Amri B. Johnson

Author:Amri B. Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781637741894
Publisher: BenBella Books
Published: 2022-07-04T00:00:00+00:00

The Bad

Perpetual antagonism toward progressive movements is not new. There have been various groups of people since the end of slavery who have taken on the role of the opposition in causes and ideas that promote equity. Their unstated intention, coupled with sleight-of-hand tactics, has been to spend considerable effort to delegitimize movements, theories, and even legislative mechanisms aimed at creating greater equality for all.

With intersectionality, for some, the tactic has been framing the concept as overzealous, even as having religious overtones. One conservative commentator said, “Intersectionality is becoming so influential that it haunts much of blue America in much the same way that Christian beliefs and cultures haunt the South. Even those who aren’t full-on adherents have begun to adopt various intersectional habits, such as adjusting their language, deferring to experiential authority, and questioning the value of free speech.”4

Others have simply dismissed it as “stupid.”

The perceived imbalance of intersectionality is what seems to be at the root of its dissonant reception during its rise to superstardom over the past five or six years.

A core thesis of Crenshaw’s work is that an increased focus on the most visible and vocal marginalizes groups of people who are multiply burdened and masks realities that cannot be understood as resulting from discrete cases of discrimination. It is easy to interpret the theory of intersectionality to be about individual experiences and as not being intricately aligned with the realities that are faced by oppressed groups because of their social standing. With a focus on individual experience, a critic can cleverly make their identity the central theme in their criticism, thus pointing at those who are anchored in the theory as being hostile and opposed to people of a particular identity who hold the most power, in solidarity with people who claim similar identities. The result is that intersectionality is often framed as a weapon against individuals—mostly white men—who consider themselves as the targets of “intersectional mobs.”

I had an experience with a former employer that reminded me that I do not have racial privilege, although in many spaces I do have privilege of class and sexuality as a straight, heterosexual male. But I am Black, so my privilege has at least that line that it cannot cross.

As I stepped into the elevator on my way to a meeting in the executive suite of the building, I encountered a gentleman that I had seen for a few months walking about the company facilities but never had a chance to formally meet. His manager was a dear colleague who I had worked with and had a collegial relationship with. He was walking with an external vendor, and as we were making our way up to the same floor, I said hello. He didn’t respond with a “hi” or “hello.” He asked, “Can I see your badge?”

My immediate response was a bit of surprise, maybe even shock. And then a bit of confusion. After that, I calmed myself and said, “I’m sorry?” And he repeated himself, “Can I

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