Besides being a solid piece of journalism, Ms. Oluo unpacks her sniper rifle to close her piece, The Heart of Whiteness…, with this memorable head shot: “She could not see that there was no amount of lighting that would make her look whiter than that interaction had.” in response to RD’s snide comment to her interviewer about switching seats for a photograph just to make the interviewer look darker.
As a person who agrees that race is, in fact, a social construct, but also agrees that “so what?”, the story of Rachel Dolezal’s successful “passing” is only mildly captivating. There are literally millions — probably hundreds of millions — of non-blacks who have either toyed with or are actively toying with black identity. The nearly universal subjugation of fellow human beings based solely on the color of their skin is universally compelling, has created a whole lot of automatic victims and, as everyone knows, being a victim isn’t all negative. It can also give you an advantage out there. Exploring these phenomena (discrimination based on skin tone & the advantages of victimhood) and discovering their inherent absurdity is at once alarming and liberating. Of course whitey often exercises “white privilege”! That’s a given. Why wouldn’t he? And: of course African Americans often channel the automatic victim. Why wouldn’t they? I mean, rich people act rich, boxers act tough and comedians act funny. Resisting these temptations requires superpowers most of us just don’t possess. In these times, Curtis Jackson III and Marshall Mathers III are not mutually exclusive commodities. We get it.
In this response, I’d like to focus on the accomplished journalist and self-professed “giant black woman”, Ijeoma Oluo. I’d like to use my undeserved and slightly twisted “white privilege” to explore Ms. Oluo’s valuable contributions to her readership.
First of all, other than “giant black woman”, how else, I wonder, does Ijeoma Oluo identify?
- As a journalist, obviously. Her journalistic privilege allows her to expect the services of editors, photographers and publishers to increase her reach. Why would she not take full advantage of her privileged position?
- As a woman, of course, she is entitled to expect that she is more than capable of raising children, of providing a nurturing environment for friends and family, of bringing a heightened degree of emotional intelligence to her personal and professional interactions. Who, in their right mind, would reject the privilege that automatically accrues to women in these fundamental areas of social assignment?
- As a crusader for social justice, perhaps? This is, of course, a thankless job, and also very crowded, even for an atheist. What’s up with that? “You sit where you stand” someone once said. I empathize with this identity, but it isn’t an easy one, especially if you’re not religious.
- As a light-skinned black person? This is tricky and you might think I’m not qualified to opine on this very slippery topic based on my profile pic, but you’d be wrong. You and I both know colorism is rampant and that being light-skinned in Nigeria would bring both privilege and ridicule, just as it does in the USA. This identity requires constant vigilance and can be exhausting. Looks like Ijeoma is dealing with it just fine.
So, I wonder what it is that Ijeoma Oluo wants out of life? Attacking white supremacy on all fronts is quixotic. Attacking people like RD is too easy, given Ijeoma’s background. Methinks she’s too tough and smart to go after low-hanging fruit all day long. She prefers a challenge. And — bless my soul! — I think she’s found one that fits her personality and probably matches well with her self-identity: The Fourth Estate!
In a recent tweet she highlights the importance of having been assigned a black editor for her piece on RD. Ijeoma has pointed out that her interview with an individual who was trying to “pass” is compelling to her readership not only because she herself is such a great journalist. She gives due credit publicly to her editor, a man of color. This championing of her editor while at the same time admonishing publishers to continue this practice adds yet another layer of credibility to her identity as a “giant black woman”. This is great stuff and I hope she hoists that flag more and more in the future because this focus will help make it brighter for all of us.
I, too, am tired of reading and hearing about identity politics and identity shaming from shallow people. It’s refreshing to see a dedicated journalist teaming up with a savvy editor and both teaming up with an enlightened publisher to bring us readers an authentic, home-cooked story that resonates with truth. People like Dolezal — and they are legion, especially in the USA — won’t go away, given the ubiquity of “black culture” as it is marketed to our ears and eyes by a profit-hungry media. If I want to try and understand where they’re really coming from, it’s critical that they be put to the test by people like Ijeoma Oluo and Charles Mudede. You both did your job and your multitude of readers has profited mightily.
“The Heart of Whiteness”: Brilliant title!
Ijeoma Oluo is, indeed, a giant.