Intersectional Souls Project |
What exactly is intersectionality?
Stephanie D. Johnson, a.k.a. "Najma", a Deaf-Blind Black Panqueer community educator explains different examples and situations where intersectionality* exists. She emphasizes that, without intersectionality, Deaf communities will fall apart.
When using any of this information in presentations or publications, please credit:
Johnson, S. D. (2015) "What exactly is intersectionality?" Published in Intersectional Souls Project: http://intersectionalsouls.weebly.com/what-is-intersectionality.html
To view more examples of Stephanie's community work, check out her professional portfolio: http://stephaniedjohnson.weebly.com
Many thanks to those who assisted in capturing this important conversation: Joan McCorwin, Miki Smith, De'Lasha Singleton, and Summer Crider Loeffler. Much gratitude to the Austin Association for the Deaf for providing space for this filming to happen.
Video transcript and descriptions provided by Alison Aubrecht and Leah Geer and the video is captioned by The Giving Cypress, LLC. 2015.
Full transcript with video/image descriptions:
[Opening shot: black background with Intersectional Soul Project intertwining hands. A chair in the middle/tilted to the side starts to show up as the following text appears]: What exactly is intersectionality?
Fade into black. [Text appears typewriter style, one letter at a time] A conversation with Najma
[Black background (looks like a thick theatre-style curtain). Najma (Black DeafBlind Panqueer folk wearing a dark blue undershirt with a lighter jean style long-sleeved button-up shirt open and a dark colored newsie cap on with large silver hoop earrings and multi-colored metallic thin bangles on her left arm walks in from the viewer’s left side, signing as she walks] Hi, Hi, Hi. Who am I?
[As she signs, blue text appears on the upper right corner: http://stephaniedjohnson.weebly.com] I’m Stephanie D. Johnson, though my preferred name is Najma.
[Screen fades briefly, resumes same footage] For some time now I’ve been involved in community work, though not in the role of a teacher. Rather, I approach the work in a collaborative, solidarity manner, because I believe that every single community has their own unique experiences, and we can work to bring together our experiences and resources.
[Screen fades to black and white text appears typewriter style on a black background: Najma is a community educator whose focus is on educating DDBDDHH* folks about intersectionality and social justice] [Text rapidly disappears one letter at a time, returning to black screen.]
[Footage cuts to two individuals seated side by side in a half-moon circle. Behind Najma, who is seated towards the left side of the screen, is a wood paneled wall. Next to her on the right side of the screen is Joan, a light skinned Black Deaf womxn. She is wearing a black short-sleeved button collar shirt and dark jeans; her hair is salt and pepper/brown and is pulled back in a ponytail.] Najma: Intersectionality means… you know it is not an easy word to understand [Najma shrugs]. It is a word that has been around for a while now. The bottom line is, you know, many of us Deaf people repeatedly same the same thing, “We’re all Deaf. Deaf. We all experience Audism. We’re oppressed.” And you know, for many of us, like myself, for example, I’m Black, I’m Queer, I’m DeafBlind—I have multiple identities. And so I experience oppression based on each of those identities.
[Joan sits quietly, watching Najma, with a shy smile on her face, hands resting on lap.] Namja: All of those oppressions bind together and impact me, who I am. If asked to pick one identity, out of the many, I can’t single out any. Intersectionality means multiple oppressions within one context, one person’s experiences, and how that impacts us. To give an example, a real life example, a friend of mine stands with me in any given situation. This friend is a white woman, and I’m a Black woman, so we both experience oppression related to our being women, it’s the same. Except it isn’t, really, because I’m a Black woman, and so my experiences as a woman are informed by my being Black, so we have different experiences. I’m often labeled an Angry Black Woman, which is annoying. But my white friend? She never experiences that label. No one ever throws out “Angry Black Woman” type of insults to White women.
Now another example, adding poor to the mix- A Poor Black Woman and a Poor White Woman- people prefer to approach/interact with Poor White Women.
[Najma pauses, appears to be thinking, and fiddles with her earring for a bit]. Najma: It’s hard. For sure. I feel like our Deaf communities, we need to sit down together and listen to each other, ask and share about our experiences. Learn about each identity that a person has. And not just say, [Najma leans towards Joan] Oh you and I are both Deaf, we’re the same! So [Briefly rests hand on Joan’s shoulder like you, you’re a woman, an older woman, perhaps poor. We shouldn’t say to you, the most important thing is we’re both Deaf, forget the rest of your identities. We need to recognize that you’re a woman, you’re Deaf, all of your identities, to embrace the whole of you. You’re important, every part of you.
[Najma starts to lean back, Joan continues to sit quietly, listening] When we tell people, you have to pick one? That bothers me. I don’t like it. I feel the Deaf community must value intersectionality. I really hope that going forward, we are able to introduce schools, organizations, and people to this concept. [Najma shrugs, appears slightly unsure, possibly a bit hopeless. Pauses, rests hands on leg for a moment.] I feel passionate about this. I’m worried. We cannot, cannot, cannot just focus on only one identity all the time. If we do this, we’ll fall apart, and our Deaf communities will too.
[Screen fades to black.]
[Najma seated on a mostly black background with the same image of the sign INTERSECTIONALITY (Three hands, fingers intertwined) appears in opaque behind Najma (right upper corner of screen) in the opening screen. A small child sits on Najma’s lap wearing a light brown onesie. The child is has x back to the camera, and is touching Najma’s face with one finger as she signs.]
Najma: As a DeafBlind Person, [gently moves child’s hand down] I want to emphasize that Intersectionality is so important [Child slowly turns upper body towards camera and viewers can now see half of x's face.] Let me tell you more about why. I’m DeafBlind. I’m Black and DeafBlind. Let me ask you a serious question. Honestly, how many Black DeafBlind people do you know out there? [Child continues to sit quietly, turned towards something off-screen]. Najma: How many? You tell me. No? You can’t think of any? You know why that is? Usually when people see a Black DeafBlind person, all they see is “Black.” But that’s not right. The person is Black, DeafBlind, and has more identities, too. But society just sees Black and that’s the end of it. That offends me. As a DeafBlind person, my access to ASL is limited, even though ASL is often equated with Deaf. [Child turns back to Najma and then looks off to the left side] My access to Deaf interactions, the flashing lights, the fast paced and smooth ASL bantering, I also don’t have access to that. And so I’m not really involved in the Deaf community [Disappointed face, looks down briefly and pauses]. Involvement in Deaf events [child looks up at Najma again for a moment, then looks off to the right side of the screen again] are difficult because they are not designed to be welcoming of Black DeafBlind folks with additional identities that make up the whole. I [insistently] am all of those at once, not just one thing. Or two things. You cannot separate those parts of me. Nope.
[Najma pauses to lift child and turn x around to face the camera/rest against Najma. While lifting x, a white diaper is visible. Najma is smiling. Front of child’s onsie is now visible and shows text (folded over, so the words are not immediately visible but then Najma pulls down the onsie and the words are: “seriously handsome”]
Najma: Now, [points down at child. Child is resting in lap and looking down, sometimes looking straight up at camera] Xe is Deaf. And I’m really worried [very concerned face]. Xe is multicultural, [Xe starts to fidget a bit and appears to sign to someone off camera and then leans back and looks into camera] not just Black [knocks hat back while signing Black, adjusts hat] Xe has other identities. I worry that Deaf people will look at x and say, xe is Deaf and that’s it. No, xe is not. We need to recognize that x’s identities include a cultural history of violence and oppression. But for Deaf people to look at x only notice the “Deaf” part? No. I do not like it. Intersectionality means [Xe is now playing with his sock-covered foot] looking at all of a person, the whole of the person, learning about all parts of the person, what makes you who you are. Not just [clap] oh hey, we’re the same, both Deaf. [Points at child] Xe is not just Deaf [signs deaf on child’s cheek/ear], no.
[On the left side of the screen white text starts to fly in. Initially the letters are reversed/backwards and then swing forward]. Xe is afropolynesian Deaf, Gender fluid and more. [Text of those same words appears, ordered from bottom to top, with the words moving off-screen as Najma names each identity]. Until xe gets older x’s identity will be whatever xe decides and we will honor that. [Xe is now leaning forward a bit on Najma’s lap]. But I would never, ever identify x as Deaf only, because that is NOT true. Similarly, I want you to identify me as Black DeafBlind Pan Queer [Child holds hand straight out, handshape 1, then moves hand back down] Folk, I don’t really identify as a Man or Womxn either way [shrugs]. Anyway, my point is that all of my experiences as a whole makes me who I am, not just “Deaf.”
You know, honestly, I have never experienced the world as a Deaf-only person. And I’ve never experienced the world as Black only. Why? Because Deaf usually means White Deaf. And among Black people hearing people are centered, and so on. So my experiences are a solid combination of all of my identities. [Xe starts to fidget and cry a bit. Holds finger up to lips, then starts to rest finger in mouth].
I hope people will be willing to listen and learn. If you do, if you are willing to recognize intersectionality, maybe more Deaf Schools will stay open, maybe more people will join the fight to preserve ASL. You look now, you look at activism to preserve ASL. How many people of color are involved? Who? [Questioning face] [Child now resting hands on lap again]. And Deaf rights movements, who is involved? You look. You look. [Xe starts to fuss a bit]. Why are Brown people not involved? Brown means Black, Latinx, etc. There are more identities than just Deaf. Many of you who are Deaf are also a woman. Lesbian. Poor, and that’s an important experience to recognize. Maybe a late learner of ASL, which also has an important impact, as does Educational experiences, and many, many more things. [Xe is fussing, still]. So, I’m telling you, without intersectionality, Deaf communities will fall apart. [Looks down at x, who is now banging hand against x’s lap and fussing]. [Najma taps x, who does not look at Najma – continues to look at someone off-screen. Najma points at x]. Xe is crying because xe wants you to recognize all of x. [Xe now looking at camera, with an I’m-about-to-start-crying fussy face. Najma taps x again and looks down at x, who continues to look at camera. Najma rests her face against the side of x’s and signs “I really love you” using the IRLY handshape.]
[Screen flashes to black and then white and purple text appears. The intersectional logo is still in the same place in the background. Text: To support us, please visit: intersectionalsouls.weebly.com and stephaniedjohnson.weebly.com ]
End transcript.
*DDBDDHH refers to Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Deaf-Disabled, Hard of Hearing.
*The concept first came from Black legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 and is largely used in critical theories, especially Feminist theory, when discussing systematic oppression.
When using any of this information in presentations or publications, please credit:
Johnson, S. D. (2015) "What exactly is intersectionality?" Published in Intersectional Souls Project: http://intersectionalsouls.weebly.com/what-is-intersectionality.html
To view more examples of Stephanie's community work, check out her professional portfolio: http://stephaniedjohnson.weebly.com
Many thanks to those who assisted in capturing this important conversation: Joan McCorwin, Miki Smith, De'Lasha Singleton, and Summer Crider Loeffler. Much gratitude to the Austin Association for the Deaf for providing space for this filming to happen.
Video transcript and descriptions provided by Alison Aubrecht and Leah Geer and the video is captioned by The Giving Cypress, LLC. 2015.
Full transcript with video/image descriptions:
[Opening shot: black background with Intersectional Soul Project intertwining hands. A chair in the middle/tilted to the side starts to show up as the following text appears]: What exactly is intersectionality?
Fade into black. [Text appears typewriter style, one letter at a time] A conversation with Najma
[Black background (looks like a thick theatre-style curtain). Najma (Black DeafBlind Panqueer folk wearing a dark blue undershirt with a lighter jean style long-sleeved button-up shirt open and a dark colored newsie cap on with large silver hoop earrings and multi-colored metallic thin bangles on her left arm walks in from the viewer’s left side, signing as she walks] Hi, Hi, Hi. Who am I?
[As she signs, blue text appears on the upper right corner: http://stephaniedjohnson.weebly.com] I’m Stephanie D. Johnson, though my preferred name is Najma.
[Screen fades briefly, resumes same footage] For some time now I’ve been involved in community work, though not in the role of a teacher. Rather, I approach the work in a collaborative, solidarity manner, because I believe that every single community has their own unique experiences, and we can work to bring together our experiences and resources.
[Screen fades to black and white text appears typewriter style on a black background: Najma is a community educator whose focus is on educating DDBDDHH* folks about intersectionality and social justice] [Text rapidly disappears one letter at a time, returning to black screen.]
[Footage cuts to two individuals seated side by side in a half-moon circle. Behind Najma, who is seated towards the left side of the screen, is a wood paneled wall. Next to her on the right side of the screen is Joan, a light skinned Black Deaf womxn. She is wearing a black short-sleeved button collar shirt and dark jeans; her hair is salt and pepper/brown and is pulled back in a ponytail.] Najma: Intersectionality means… you know it is not an easy word to understand [Najma shrugs]. It is a word that has been around for a while now. The bottom line is, you know, many of us Deaf people repeatedly same the same thing, “We’re all Deaf. Deaf. We all experience Audism. We’re oppressed.” And you know, for many of us, like myself, for example, I’m Black, I’m Queer, I’m DeafBlind—I have multiple identities. And so I experience oppression based on each of those identities.
[Joan sits quietly, watching Najma, with a shy smile on her face, hands resting on lap.] Namja: All of those oppressions bind together and impact me, who I am. If asked to pick one identity, out of the many, I can’t single out any. Intersectionality means multiple oppressions within one context, one person’s experiences, and how that impacts us. To give an example, a real life example, a friend of mine stands with me in any given situation. This friend is a white woman, and I’m a Black woman, so we both experience oppression related to our being women, it’s the same. Except it isn’t, really, because I’m a Black woman, and so my experiences as a woman are informed by my being Black, so we have different experiences. I’m often labeled an Angry Black Woman, which is annoying. But my white friend? She never experiences that label. No one ever throws out “Angry Black Woman” type of insults to White women.
Now another example, adding poor to the mix- A Poor Black Woman and a Poor White Woman- people prefer to approach/interact with Poor White Women.
[Najma pauses, appears to be thinking, and fiddles with her earring for a bit]. Najma: It’s hard. For sure. I feel like our Deaf communities, we need to sit down together and listen to each other, ask and share about our experiences. Learn about each identity that a person has. And not just say, [Najma leans towards Joan] Oh you and I are both Deaf, we’re the same! So [Briefly rests hand on Joan’s shoulder like you, you’re a woman, an older woman, perhaps poor. We shouldn’t say to you, the most important thing is we’re both Deaf, forget the rest of your identities. We need to recognize that you’re a woman, you’re Deaf, all of your identities, to embrace the whole of you. You’re important, every part of you.
[Najma starts to lean back, Joan continues to sit quietly, listening] When we tell people, you have to pick one? That bothers me. I don’t like it. I feel the Deaf community must value intersectionality. I really hope that going forward, we are able to introduce schools, organizations, and people to this concept. [Najma shrugs, appears slightly unsure, possibly a bit hopeless. Pauses, rests hands on leg for a moment.] I feel passionate about this. I’m worried. We cannot, cannot, cannot just focus on only one identity all the time. If we do this, we’ll fall apart, and our Deaf communities will too.
[Screen fades to black.]
[Najma seated on a mostly black background with the same image of the sign INTERSECTIONALITY (Three hands, fingers intertwined) appears in opaque behind Najma (right upper corner of screen) in the opening screen. A small child sits on Najma’s lap wearing a light brown onesie. The child is has x back to the camera, and is touching Najma’s face with one finger as she signs.]
Najma: As a DeafBlind Person, [gently moves child’s hand down] I want to emphasize that Intersectionality is so important [Child slowly turns upper body towards camera and viewers can now see half of x's face.] Let me tell you more about why. I’m DeafBlind. I’m Black and DeafBlind. Let me ask you a serious question. Honestly, how many Black DeafBlind people do you know out there? [Child continues to sit quietly, turned towards something off-screen]. Najma: How many? You tell me. No? You can’t think of any? You know why that is? Usually when people see a Black DeafBlind person, all they see is “Black.” But that’s not right. The person is Black, DeafBlind, and has more identities, too. But society just sees Black and that’s the end of it. That offends me. As a DeafBlind person, my access to ASL is limited, even though ASL is often equated with Deaf. [Child turns back to Najma and then looks off to the left side] My access to Deaf interactions, the flashing lights, the fast paced and smooth ASL bantering, I also don’t have access to that. And so I’m not really involved in the Deaf community [Disappointed face, looks down briefly and pauses]. Involvement in Deaf events [child looks up at Najma again for a moment, then looks off to the right side of the screen again] are difficult because they are not designed to be welcoming of Black DeafBlind folks with additional identities that make up the whole. I [insistently] am all of those at once, not just one thing. Or two things. You cannot separate those parts of me. Nope.
[Najma pauses to lift child and turn x around to face the camera/rest against Najma. While lifting x, a white diaper is visible. Najma is smiling. Front of child’s onsie is now visible and shows text (folded over, so the words are not immediately visible but then Najma pulls down the onsie and the words are: “seriously handsome”]
Najma: Now, [points down at child. Child is resting in lap and looking down, sometimes looking straight up at camera] Xe is Deaf. And I’m really worried [very concerned face]. Xe is multicultural, [Xe starts to fidget a bit and appears to sign to someone off camera and then leans back and looks into camera] not just Black [knocks hat back while signing Black, adjusts hat] Xe has other identities. I worry that Deaf people will look at x and say, xe is Deaf and that’s it. No, xe is not. We need to recognize that x’s identities include a cultural history of violence and oppression. But for Deaf people to look at x only notice the “Deaf” part? No. I do not like it. Intersectionality means [Xe is now playing with his sock-covered foot] looking at all of a person, the whole of the person, learning about all parts of the person, what makes you who you are. Not just [clap] oh hey, we’re the same, both Deaf. [Points at child] Xe is not just Deaf [signs deaf on child’s cheek/ear], no.
[On the left side of the screen white text starts to fly in. Initially the letters are reversed/backwards and then swing forward]. Xe is afropolynesian Deaf, Gender fluid and more. [Text of those same words appears, ordered from bottom to top, with the words moving off-screen as Najma names each identity]. Until xe gets older x’s identity will be whatever xe decides and we will honor that. [Xe is now leaning forward a bit on Najma’s lap]. But I would never, ever identify x as Deaf only, because that is NOT true. Similarly, I want you to identify me as Black DeafBlind Pan Queer [Child holds hand straight out, handshape 1, then moves hand back down] Folk, I don’t really identify as a Man or Womxn either way [shrugs]. Anyway, my point is that all of my experiences as a whole makes me who I am, not just “Deaf.”
You know, honestly, I have never experienced the world as a Deaf-only person. And I’ve never experienced the world as Black only. Why? Because Deaf usually means White Deaf. And among Black people hearing people are centered, and so on. So my experiences are a solid combination of all of my identities. [Xe starts to fidget and cry a bit. Holds finger up to lips, then starts to rest finger in mouth].
I hope people will be willing to listen and learn. If you do, if you are willing to recognize intersectionality, maybe more Deaf Schools will stay open, maybe more people will join the fight to preserve ASL. You look now, you look at activism to preserve ASL. How many people of color are involved? Who? [Questioning face] [Child now resting hands on lap again]. And Deaf rights movements, who is involved? You look. You look. [Xe starts to fuss a bit]. Why are Brown people not involved? Brown means Black, Latinx, etc. There are more identities than just Deaf. Many of you who are Deaf are also a woman. Lesbian. Poor, and that’s an important experience to recognize. Maybe a late learner of ASL, which also has an important impact, as does Educational experiences, and many, many more things. [Xe is fussing, still]. So, I’m telling you, without intersectionality, Deaf communities will fall apart. [Looks down at x, who is now banging hand against x’s lap and fussing]. [Najma taps x, who does not look at Najma – continues to look at someone off-screen. Najma points at x]. Xe is crying because xe wants you to recognize all of x. [Xe now looking at camera, with an I’m-about-to-start-crying fussy face. Najma taps x again and looks down at x, who continues to look at camera. Najma rests her face against the side of x’s and signs “I really love you” using the IRLY handshape.]
[Screen flashes to black and then white and purple text appears. The intersectional logo is still in the same place in the background. Text: To support us, please visit: intersectionalsouls.weebly.com and stephaniedjohnson.weebly.com ]
End transcript.
*DDBDDHH refers to Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Deaf-Disabled, Hard of Hearing.
*The concept first came from Black legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 and is largely used in critical theories, especially Feminist theory, when discussing systematic oppression.