Anita Hill, a professor of social policy, law and women's studies at Brandeis University [3], was the keynote speaker at the Black Alumnae Symposium of Simmons College in Boston on April 11, 2008.

The theme of the symposium [4] was "The Power of Our Presence: Past, Present and Future."

Women of color, African Americans in particular, are in the best
position to have a serious conversation about racism and sexism,
without having the two competing with each other, Hill suggested.

Barack Obama has done much to bridge the racial "black-white divide" recently, she said, calling his speech of March 18, 2008 [5], in reaction to comments of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, "one of the most important speeches in my lifetime."

But race and gender bias still exist, and for those who live with both – that is, are African American and female – what are they to do? Which characteristic is "worse," posed Hill, drawing laughter from her audience of mostly African American women.

Hillary Clinton "should consult with us," she said, provoking more laughter.

Hill [6] was in far less-friendly company in 1991, when her testimony [7] before the U.S. Congress put her in the national spotlight. Hill testified about allegations of sexual harassment by Clarence Thomas, her former boss and soon-to-be Supreme Court justice.

She didn't talk about that experience, but the Brandeis professor and champion of women's equality did give five tenets, or "pledges," as she called them, for getting ahead in the American Dream.

Her five pledges concerned diversity in educational staff and curricula; integration and advancement in the workforces; safe neighborhoods where homes are owned; more women leaders in the churches; and positive portrayals of women in music videos and lyrics.

Diversify Our Teaching Staff and the Curricula

Hill's first pledge reflected the impact of the Civil Rights era on her own education in the 1960s and 1970s.

"We have to think beyond Brown v. Board of Education to a broader vision of educational equality," Hill said, referring to the landmark Supreme Court decision in 1954 that resulted in equal educational access for African Americans.

She lauded the increase in college degrees of African American women from 33,500 to more than 55,000, between 1976 and 1995.

But progress in the classroom must continue in two ways to allow for a broader vision of educational equity, she said.

More African American teachers are needed in the educational system.

"I went...from first grade through college without having an African American instructor," Hill noted.

Furthermore, she said, the content of curricula must include a diversity of subjects as well a larger variety of resource materials.

The Burdens of Race and Gender

In her second pledge, Hill urged that African American women be represented in all sectors of the workforce, not just in one department or one level.

"We've got to be ready, black women, to integrate America, one workplace at a time," Hill said, the audience laughing in agreement.

Over the years, she noted, African American women have made great strides in entering the workforce.

However, "black women in the United States still earn only 68 cents for every dollar earned by men," she remarked.

Racial overtones are still pervasive, she alluded.

"The burden of identity can be overburdening," Hill said, noting that it is in the workplace that both race and gender bias are most profound.

And racial and gender diversity in the workforce, not just economic gain and equality in pay, are at issue, she warned.

"[M]ake sure that all of society understands that an integrated society is what is best for the entire society," she urged.

 

Look in Different Arenas for Employment

Continuing on her message of integrated workforces, Hill implored the women to be ambitious in their career paths.

"I also challenge black women to look in different arenas for employment...in arenas where we can best be assured of the best...success and promotions," she said.

She suggested caution in pursuing a career in the healthcare industry, where the majority of African Americans' increases in the workforce has been.

The structure of healthcare facilities "is pretty limited in terms of promotion," Hill said. "There are going to be limitations on what you can do there."

What should take place, she advised, is an evaluation of what fields and professions are best for students in terms of what opportunities the two present for promotion and advancement.

"That is the way we're going to change our workplace cultures. We're going to have to get into those cultures, and we're going to have to be able to advance [in them]," she said.

Secure Our Family Homes

The subprime mortgage crisis, resulting in the loss of homes for many African Africans nationwide, placed heavy prominence in Hill's third pledge.

"The third thing we are going to have to do is secure our own safe havens," she said, referring to both street crime and the subprime lending crisis.

"And if we don't have law enforcements, mayors [and] local and state governments that are able to help us provide those safe homes and neighborhoods, we need to get new...officials," she rebuked.

Safe homes are "critical to our advancement," Hill remarked, adding the good news for African American women that their rate of home ownership increased in the past decade.

She suggested the federal government was at least partially at fault for the housing fallout. "We need to...look at the [national] leadership that allowed that crisis to take place," she said. "We have to hold our leaders accountable."

Even the presidential candidates - John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton - "rarely talk about subprime lending," she noted.

Sounding like a presidential candidate herself, Hill remarked, "We're talking about the economic base of an entire community....There has got to be a comprehensive policy that helps us find those safe homes in the community where we want to live – as well as provides us the safety and security we need in those communities."

 

Save Our Community Soul

In her fourth pledge, Hill lamented the decline - but not the death - of the church's influence in the African American community.

"We are in danger of that [influence] changing...whether...you want to call [it] the prison culture or pop culture," she warned.

She urged the women in the audience to take leadership roles in their churches, "what I call 'saving the community soul,'" she said.

"Women must participate as leaders...in the churches...Only then can the church actually define - adequately - the role that it's going to play in our community," she sermonized, as a round of applause erupted.

"We have to have that input! We are the ones who are living in those communities," she continued. "We are keeping those churches open....We're doing the work....Our participation is critical [when] our cities are characterized by violence and despair.

 

Positive Portrayals of Women in Hip Hip

"There is racism, not just sexism...in the way women are portrayed in music videos," said Hill, blaming both artists and producers.

But by getting into decision-making positions of control in pop culture, African American women can change the content of videos "to flood the market with...our own versions of ourselves," she suggested.

Not that completely eliminating negative images of African American women is a realistic victory, Hill conceded, but "putting our own images out there will be."

source: EthnicNewz.org

**************************************************
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON RACE AND GENDER BIAS?
WHAT SHOULD THE MEDIA OR ANYONE ELSE DO ABOUT IT?

See "Login or register" below to post your comments.
**************************************************

Copyright 2008 New England Ethnic News, EthnicNewz.org. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express permission of the source. Contact Newz for more information.