Overthink Black Consciousness with Lewis Gordon
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Nov 19, 2024 Lewis Gordon, a Distinguished Professor at the University of Connecticut and author of *Fear of Black Consciousness*, sheds light on the intriguing complexities of Black identity. He discusses whether black skin is a prerequisite for being Black and critiques the notion of white privilege in understanding racism. The conversation explores historical contexts of anti-Black racism, the existential concept of bad faith, and the empowering potential of Black consciousness. Gordon also navigates the controversial case of Rachel Dolezal, linking these themes to liberation and love.
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Bronx Black Consciousness
- Lewis Gordon developed Black consciousness after moving from Jamaica to the Bronx.
- A white classmate calling him a racial slur triggered this awareness.
Two Types of Black Consciousness
- Lowercase "b" black consciousness is simply awareness of one's racialized position under white supremacy.
- Uppercase "B" Black consciousness is a political understanding of societal contradictions.
Racial Objectification
- Both Gordon and Frantz Fanon describe similar experiences of racial objectification.
- A white child's use of a racial slur made them see themselves from an outsider's perspective.
