Conditions are Deteriorating, Allies are Few – Women of Color

It is disappointing that after discussions and correspondence with the Campaign for Gender Equality, Women Count and others, women of color are as marginalized by these groups as by society at large. There is no mention at all of the intersection of racism and sexism which only impacts women of color. This clearly reflects the fact that women of color are subjected to the same racism as men of color and the same sexism as white women, but in addition endure sexism from men of color and racism from white women. As long as these real issues which have contributed to the circumstance that 48% of the foreclosures have been on homes of women of color and the already highest suicide rates by women of color over all other groups is skyrocketing, warrants an answer to the question: If the women advocating a presidential commission are indeed the sisters and allies of women of color, why the near total refusal to address the most important and unique issue which only women of color experience?

Such behavior is a graphic example of institutionalized racism because there is both a determination to inhibit any mention of the intersection of racism and sexism and anger at those who keep pointing it out. Brilliant and educated Michelle Obama is not engaged with women of color at the grassroots, working class levels to discuss our lives and the debilitating discrimination experienced. There are women of color who have been appointed to positions in the Obama administration but, with rare exceptions, they are family, friends and cronies or their wives and daughters. This is hardly a solution for the masses of women of color who are not in those circles, even when well educated and talented.

The determination to keep women of color in this country invisible amidst assertions of sisterhood and expressions of support for international women is appalling. We are waiting for leadership on this from the Campaign for Gender Equality, Women Count and all the other women’s and civil rights organizations who claim to be our allies but whose actions do not even include mention of us or our most critical issue: the intersection of racism and sexism.

Meanwhile, women of color in this country are losing jobs at the highest rates, dying from all curable diseases at the highest rates, committing suicide at the highest rates. There is no fence to sit on in this. Either you are helping save our lives or aiding our extermination. Mine is not the only voice crying out.

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California taxpayers are paying approximately $70,000 a year to house an elderly inmate. As medical care costs increase by age, the cost of keeping geriatric women in prison will increase the burden to taxpayers even though, as a general rule, people become less dangerous as they age, said the Older Women’s League. Californians may be poised to pay the most money to keep its least dangerous inmates locked up…