“Safe Spaces” Are Not “Safe” for Black Women
The idea of addressing systemic racism seems to have taken over the world landscape over the past year. As a Black woman, I have scratched by head at how over 400 years of American history that has included slavery, Jim Crow, The Black Codes, and mass incarceration has not resulted in it being critical to address before now. Yet, I know, that a Perfect Storm of social media, and demanding that Black people bear witness by filming Black Death has contributed to this. From corporations that are suddenly proclaiming “Black Lives Matter” (even though we cannot tell if from their own Board of Directors), to non-BIPOC people suddenly scrambling to self-proclaim allyship with Black and Indigenous People of Color, the expectation of engaging in dialogue to “end systemic racism” has often fallen on the shoulders of those who have lived experiencing it — -to not only lead the discussion, but to insure that non-BIPOC feel “safe” in doing so. This “requirement” has resulted in the bastardization of the idea of “Safe Space”.
The concept of “Safe Spaces” was started to meet the needs of marginalized/oppressed communities (love to the LGBTQ community — -especially those within my own Black community for recognizing the need for this) to have a place where they could be safe from that marginalization. To be able to live (and speak) authentically without fear of reprisal, gaslighting, or having to fight off microaggressions. Yet, as those who suddenly see racism as a problem want to be “educated” (often by BIPOC without providing any form of compensation for their emotional or intellectual labor), it has instead been thrown in the face of marginalized communities as the “Rule of Engagement” in racial conversations.
Safe Space is now being used to mean that White, cisgender, heterosexual people should never be made uncomfortable.
Safe Space is now being used to justify the emotional harm done to BIPOC when non-BIPOC choose to spew beliefs that are toxic and dangerous to them, under the guise of “learning” and “not being politically correct”
Safe Space is now being used to mean that those same White-Cis-Het folks cannot be challenged on their culpability in the upholding of White Supremacy.
Safe Space is now being used to mean that the White-Cis-Het community should be praised for mediocre/performative allyship instead of demanding that there is a sacrifice in truly dismantling the system from which they benefit.
Safe Space is now being extolled as only occurring when BIPOC make themselves vulnerable and share their experiences with racial trauma to the sometimes skeptical people who are waiting for the opportunity to blurt out “not all” or to make other excuses for the mistreatment of Black, Indigenous People of Color.
Safe Space is now morphed into paying and embracing the voices of White men and women who “share” how they have “achieved allyship status” by their minimal work, while failing to listen to or pay Black women who are living/breathing this work.
Safe Space is no longer “Safe” for Black women when that space includes those who are not. It becomes something different, something that can be exhausting, frustrating, unfulfilling.
The room to address systemic racism needs to be made available — -designed by those who are most impacted by it. But it does not deserve to remove/replace that much-needed sacred space.
Dr. Dent is a licensed psychologist. Her hardest job is being a Black Woman who centers the experiences of Black women and girls. Through the organization Centering Sisters that she co-founded, she works to make truly safe spaces for Black women, girls, and femmes — -as them “getting free” is necessary. Make sure to “Like” her page and follow @CenteringSisters.
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