Intersectionality and Social Injustice:

• Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term "intersectionality" to describe overlapping social justice issues like racism and sexism.

• Crenshaw explains that if you stand in the path of multiple forms of exclusion, you're likely to be hit by both.

• Intersectionality helps us understand how black women face compounded discrimination that is often overlooked.

Case Study: Emma DeGraffenreid:

• Emma DeGraffenreid was an African-American woman who filed a lawsuit against a local car manufacturing plant for race and gender discrimination.

• DeGraffenreid argued that she was not hired by the plant because she was a black woman.

• The plant employed African-American men in industrial and maintenance roles and white women in secretarial and front-office positions.

• DeGraffenreid's claim highlighted that neither group represented her intersectional identity as both black and female.

• The judge dismissed her case on the grounds that the company did hire African-Americans (all men) and women (all white).

• The court refused to recognize the compounded discrimination DeGraffenreid faced at the intersection of race and gender.

• The legal system at the time did not acknowledge or provide a framework for understanding intersectionality.

• This led to the dismissal of claims like DeGraffenreid's, where discrimination occurred due to the overlapping nature of race and gender biases.

• DeGraffenreid's case exemplifies how black women were uniquely disadvantaged in the workplace.

• The refusal to see the combined impact of race and gender discrimination underscored the limitations of existing antidiscrimination laws.

Importance of Framing:

• Social justice issues need appropriate frames to be seen and addressed.

• Without proper frames, issues affecting marginalized groups, like black women, are often ignored.

• Advocates for a more inclusive approach that recognizes the unique challenges faced by individuals at the intersection of multiple forms of discrimination.

Violence Against Black Women:

• Black women experience significant police violence, but their stories are less publicized.

• Examples of black women killed by police span various circumstances, highlighting the pervasive nature of the issue.

Call to Action:

• Kimberlé Crenshaw, a law scholar and advocate at the forefront of the #SayHerName movement, calls on us to bear witness to this reality and speak up for victims of prejudice.

• The "Say Her Name" campaign by the African-American Policy Forum aims to raise awareness of black women victims of police violence.

Conclusion:

• Recognizing and addressing intersectionality is crucial for social justice.

• Mental health counselors should be aware of these dynamics and advocate for inclusive practices that consider the unique experiences of marginalized groups.

• Kimberlé Crenshaw's article, "Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics," is a foundational text that many are likely familiar with and essential for understanding these issues.