color.
That, being a concern of Pinkett-Smith’s–simply because we [may very well get] a woman president, she (like many others with the same concerns) wonder just where does Hilary Clinton stand on many issues of concern that directly affect the people at the very bottom of the totem pole where, although all women are there-together (as compared to men) alongside that, there is a divide down there….and that’s where race steps into view.
We can’t ignore the fact that it is race that divides women at that bottom of that same totem pole as, history has proven (and repeatedly shown) that issues regarding the cares and concerns of the group at the very bottom of the totem pole have gone ignored and unaddressed-leaving women of color the bottom feeders of it all.
So Jada wants to know: “Hilary, woman…considering the high voter turnout of women of color and (by political association) president Obama’s reputation proceeding you-you probably already know that you may indeed have a win in the bag. The question is however, unlike all presidents before you—what will YOU do for the women at the very bottom of totem pole? How will you care-where care never was?
Although it may be great to embrace a woman as a president, issues of concern to women of color don’t’ necessarily make it an automatic thing that Hilary Clinton may share the same plight, understanding, or care (just like all white/male presidents before her).
This is what she had to say:
Jada Pinkett Smith
April 18 at 12:48pm •
Race vs Gender
Hilary Clinton is running for President. When Hilary made her announcement, I was more confused and anxious than excited. Her announcement conjured many old hurts and scars.
In the past, I have been criticized for suggesting that black women extend our media platforms to white women in the way in which white women are making strides to extend their media platforms to us, but Hilary’s announcement reminded me that the relationship between black and white women on the political platform has been deeply complicated, disappointing and painful. The only question I have been asking myself is if I’m suppose to vote for Hilary because she is a woman; will she take us to the mountaintop with her or will women of color once again be left out and left behind? For example, during the Woman’s Suffrage Movement, black women were specifically excluded because Northern white women feared of losing support of Southern white women if black women were included.
What made it even more offensive is that the two women given the credit of pioneering the woman’s movement were at first abolitionists. Those were complicated times, but as time has gone on it seems as if that sentiment of separatism did not let up and permeated through the feminist movement as a place to facilitate and empower white women only. I personally suffered the racism and classism of the feminist movement and now have had to watch my daughter battle even ageism as she journeys to participate in the feminist movement. But she continues to fight the good fight referring to herself as a feminist while her mother refers to herself as a womanist who supports feminism and feminists. You can imagine that Willow and I have had some “spirited” conversations about this topic that’s uneasy for even a mother and daughter to talk about at times which simply illuminates how volatile a subject it could be for a nation of women to explore…but we must.
How will we reconcile the past to move into the future? Can Hilary, whether she becomes President or not, heal the broken political ties of the women of this nation? I know it takes far more than the idea of being the first female President of the United States to run this country, but as a woman, it sure is an exciting idea. Women of color and white women have been taking on the majority of their fights on the political platform on separate lines; can Hilary Clinton change that legacy through her journey to become president? Because if she can…she would not only have my vote…but she would have my heart.
To all my women friends of all colors and creeds, this is a great opportunity for healing and reconciliation… let’s woman up in the spirit of compassion to gain more understanding of one another and the issues we face. Let’s get the conversation started…
J
