The following is a comment on the piece written by Paulette
M. Caldwell titled A Hair Piece- Perspectives on the Intersection of Race and
Gender
Paulette Caldwell’s piece is at once interesting and at
another glance, deeply illuminating and personal. especially with regards to
the concept of intersectionality. At the heart of the discussion is the
following idea – Racism and sexism are interlocking, mutually- reinforcing
components of a system of dominance rooted in patriarchy. Within the
intellectual space created by Caldwell, Hair serves a two fold function – at once
as a tool to signify identity and simultaneously, a site for waging ideological
battles for countering racism and patriarchy. Her discussion of various court
cases, from Rogers to Willingham suggests a highly unique and nuanced
reading of court decisions and how they are a reflection of limited lenses
employed by courts when dealing with real life issues which affect the lives of
ordinary people like black women. As said by Caldwell says herself, the
writings of black women confirm the centrality of hair in the psychological
abuse of black women. This plays a part in her eventually concluding that anti
discrimination law would be rendered infructuous unless courts and legal
theorists move beyond the narrow, single minded constructions they employ when understanding
discrimination and create newer mechanisms, which can look at the interplay of
race and sex in improving their vision and analysis.
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