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Daivon Brown

Dr. Pears

ENGW 105

27 February 2023

The Union of Race, Class, and Gender

The union of race and gender oppression in the workplace is an issue that has garnered

increased attention in recent years, particularly in regard to the experiences of Black women.

Black women face unique forms of discrimination and oppression that cannot be adequately

addressed through a singular focus on either race or gender. In chapter seven of “From #Black

Lives Matter to Black Liberation,” Keeanga Yamahtta Taylor’s analysis of the relationship

between race and class in U.S. political history provides a valuable framework for further

understanding the experiences of Black women in the workplace.

One major challenge that Black women face in the workplace is a lack of representation.

Black women are severely underrepresented in leadership positions, particularly in industries

such as technology and finance. This lack of representation can lead to feelings of isolation and

exclusion, as well as a lack of role models and mentors. How can young black women be

inspired to pursue rigorous careers such as STEM if they have no women that look like them

being represented within those careers? In addition, it can contribute to stereotypes and biases

that Black women are not suited for leadership roles. For example, Black women may face

unique challenges in being taken seriously as leaders, as they are often subject to stereotypes and

biases based on their race and gender.

It is important to recognize and center the experiences of Black women in discussions of

oppression and inequality, particularly in the context of the workplace. By acknowledging the
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ways in which race, gender, and class conjoin to shape experiences of discrimination and

oppression, we can better understand the complex challenges facing marginalized communities

and work towards building a more just and equitable society. Taylor’s analysis provides a

valuable starting point for these conversations, but it is important to continue to push for a more

nuanced understanding of oppression and inequality.

Furthermore, the experiences of Black women in the workplace cannot be understood

without acknowledging the historical and systemic forms of oppression they have faced. As

Taylor notes, the legacies of slavery and segregation continue to shape American society today,

and Black people continue to face discrimination and disadvantage in virtually every sphere of

life, including the workplace. Similarly, the history of patriarchy and sexism also contributes to

the unique experiences of discrimination faced by Black women, both within and outside of the

workplace.

Taylor’s argument that the struggle against racism and the struggle for socialism are

deeply interconnected aligns with my own argument that the experiences of Black women in the

workplace are shaped by both race and gender. As Taylor notes, many Black radicals throughout

history, including Claude McKay in the 1920s, recognized the ways in which capitalism

perpetuates and reinforces racial inequality. Similarly, in the context of the workplace, it is

impossible to separate the experiences of Black women from the broader economic and political

structures that produce and perpetuate race and gender inequalities. For example, Black women

are disproportionately concentrated in low-wage jobs with limited opportunities for

advancement, which reflects the ways in which capitalism and systemic racism come together to

produce unequal outcomes. The lack of representation of Black women in leadership and higher-
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up executive roles is not merely a coincidence, this is due to the majority of Black women in the

workplace not being in a setting that permits them to advance within their careers.

The history of patriarchy and sexism has had a significant impact on Black women. The

legacy of slavery in the United States, where Black women were subjected to sexual exploitation

and violence, set the stage for a system of oppression that continues to this day. Throughout

history, Black women have been subjected to both racism and sexism, facing discrimination and

marginalization both within their own communities and in society at large. Stereotypes of Black

women as hypersexual and promiscuous have been used to justify their mistreatment, and they

have often been denied the same opportunities for education, employment, and political

participation as white men and women. While Black women have played crucial roles in the

fight for civil rights and women's rights, their contributions have often been overlooked or

overshadowed by those of their male and white counterparts. Despite these challenges, Black

women have continued to resist and organize, fighting for their rights and a more just and

equitable society.

Additionally, Taylor argues that the neoliberal turn in American politics has further

exacerbated the inequalities faced by Black workers, particularly Black women. As corporations

have become more powerful and labor unions have declined, workers have lost crucial

protections and bargaining power. This has disproportionately affected Black workers, who are

more likely to be in low-wage jobs with little job security or benefits. Taylor notes that this has

made it even more difficult for Black workers to organize and demand better working conditions

and pay.

Moreover, Taylor’s argument that white Americans do not benefit homogenously from

white supremacy due to class, is very similar to my own argument that the experiences of Black
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women in the workplace are shaped by both race and gender. To Taylor, being white is not the

only determinant to benefiting from white supremacy, but also the socioeconomic class of that

individual. Taylor notes that many white Americans are also harmed by white supremacist

institutions, and that the struggle against racism and for socialism must be grounded in solidarity

across racial lines. Similarly, in the context of the workplace, it is important to recognize that

white women also face less severe, unique forms of discrimination and oppression, and that

solidarity across gender and racial lines is necessary to achieve meaningful change. This is also

true for addressing the systemic issues that lead to unequal outcomes for Black women in the

workplace. It requires not only individual action, but also collective action on a structural level.

And while Taylor would not agree with this, this includes advocating for policies that promote

diversity, equity, and inclusion in hiring and promotions, as well as policies that address the wage

gap and provide access to affordable childcare and parental leave.

It is only by recognizing and addressing these complex and intersecting forms of

oppression that meaningful progress can be made toward achieving greater equity and justice for

all. This requires an intersectional approach that centers the experiences of those who are most

marginalized and seeks to address the root causes of inequality and injustice, rather than simply

addressing symptoms or surface-level manifestations of these problems.

While Taylor addresses the connection between Black women and capitalism, I believe

that Taylor’s argument could benefit from a more explicit consideration of gender, particularly in

the context of Black women’s experiences. While Taylor recognizes the unique forms of

oppression faced by Black people, she does not explicitly address the ways in which gender also

intersects with race and class to shape experiences of oppression. By centering the experiences of
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Black women in the workplace, my paper seeks to illuminate the ways in which intersectional

identities shape experiences of discrimination and oppression.

Taylor's analysis highlights the interconnections between race, class, and gender in the

experiences of Black women in the workplace. She notes that capitalism, white supremacy, and

patriarchy all contribute to the unequal treatment of Black women and other marginalized

groups. To address these inequalities, Taylor calls for a movement that is grounded in unity and

recognizes the irrevocable correlations between different forms of oppression. This requires a

commitment to fighting for racial, economic, and gender justice in all aspects of society,

including the workplace. Ultimately, the struggle for racial and gender justice is an ongoing one,

and there is still a lot of work to be done. It is important to recognize that the experiences of

Black women in the workplace are shaped by multiple forms of oppression, including both race

and gender. By taking an intersectional approach, we can better understand the unique challenges

that Black women face and work towards meaningful change. Taylor’s analysis provides a useful

framework for understanding the interconnections between race and class in U.S. political

history and can be applied to the context of the workplace to illuminate the ways in which

capitalism and systemic racism intersect to produce unequal outcomes. However, it is also

important to explicitly consider the role of gender in shaping experiences of oppression,

particularly in the context of Black women’s experiences. By centering the experiences of Black

women, we can better understand the complexity of intersectional identities and work towards

building solidarity across racial, gender, and class lines.