What will I learn about: Society often forces Black women to tone down their racial identity to assimilate, falsely treating the labels of 'human' and 'Black woman' as mutually exclusive?

Society often forces Black women to tone down their racial identity to assimilate, falsely treating the labels of 'human' and 'Black woman' as mutually exclusive.

What will I learn about: Claiming to be 'color-blind' is not a progressive stance; it dismisses both the reality of systemic racism and the rich cultural heritage of Black people?

Claiming to be 'color-blind' is not a progressive stance; it dismisses both the reality of systemic racism and the rich cultural heritage of Black people.

What will I learn about: The fetishization of Black women's bodies and hair strips them of their agency and trivializes deep cultural and political significance into mere entertainment?

The fetishization of Black women's bodies and hair strips them of their agency and trivializes deep cultural and political significance into mere entertainment.

What will I learn about: Mainstream feminism frequently ignores the unique experiences of Black women, while white culture simultaneously appropriates and profits from Black cultural expressions?

Mainstream feminism frequently ignores the unique experiences of Black women, while white culture simultaneously appropriates and profits from Black cultural expressions.

What will I learn about: To combat the 'crabs-in-a-barrel' mentality born from systemic oppression, Black women must actively uplift one another, as the success of one empowers the entire community?

To combat the 'crabs-in-a-barrel' mentality born from systemic oppression, Black women must actively uplift one another, as the success of one empowers the entire community.

This Will Be My Undoing

Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America

Morgan Jerkins

★ 4.1 / 5(21 ratings)

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Categories:

Society & Culture

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Why is the concept of 'color-blindness' actually a harmful myth, and how does ignoring a person's skin color inadvertently erase both their cultural history and their experiences with systemic racism?
💡How does mainstream society enforce a double standard when it comes to cultural appropriation, specifically regarding how Black women versus white women are treated for wearing the exact same hairstyles?
💡What is the 'crabs-in-a-barrel' theory, and how can rejecting this mentality of self-preservation lead to collective success and empowerment for Black women?

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Key Takeaways from This Will Be My Undoing

✓Society often forces Black women to tone down their racial identity to assimilate, falsely treating the labels of 'human' and 'Black woman' as mutually exclusive.
✓Claiming to be 'color-blind' is not a progressive stance; it dismisses both the reality of systemic racism and the rich cultural heritage of Black people.
✓The fetishization of Black women's bodies and hair strips them of their agency and trivializes deep cultural and political significance into mere entertainment.
✓Mainstream feminism frequently ignores the unique experiences of Black women, while white culture simultaneously appropriates and profits from Black cultural expressions.
✓To combat the 'crabs-in-a-barrel' mentality born from systemic oppression, Black women must actively uplift one another, as the success of one empowers the entire community.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from This Will Be My Undoing

Mind Map

This Will Be My Undoing

Assimilation & Identity+

The Myth of Color-Blindness+

Fetishization & The Body+

Mainstream Feminism's Blind Spots+

Complexity & Cultural Appropriation+

Empowerment & Solidarity+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7

Why did a white man once tell Morgan Jerkins that she did not fit the role of a 'Black woman'?

A. Because she openly rejected Black cultural traditions in her published writing.
B. Because her education, well-spoken nature, and career contradicted his negative stereotypes of Black women.
C. Because she identified primarily as a universal feminist rather than focusing on race.
D. Because he believed the term 'human' was a more scientifically accurate label for everyone.

Question 2 of 7

According to the author, what is the primary danger of adopting a 'color-blind' approach to race?

A. It forces white people to overly analyze their own implicit biases in professional settings.
B. It makes it difficult for corporations and universities to meet their required diversity quotas.
C. It ignores real systemic racism and erases the rich cultural history and daily experiences of Black people.
D. It encourages Black women to exaggerate their cultural differences to stand out in white-dominated spaces.

Question 3 of 7

How does the book view the act of a white person asking to touch a Black woman's hair?

A. It is an acceptable gesture if the person has a genuine appreciation for Black beauty standards.
B. It strips the woman of her agency, treats her like an object, and ignores the political significance of natural hair.
C. It is a modern, progressive attempt to bridge the physical and cultural gap between white and Black communities.
D. It is a harmless curiosity that helps demystify the complexities of Black hair care for mainstream society.

Question 4 of 7

What flaw in mainstream feminism is illustrated by the director's comments on the 2014 film 'Girlhood'?

A. Mainstream feminism often generalizes the female experience, ignoring the unique stigmatization and sexualization Black girls face.
B. White directors purposefully alter Black stories to make them more appealing to international feminist audiences.
C. Black girls are underrepresented in mainstream media because feminist networks prefer to fund independent white films.
D. Feminist media tends to focus too heavily on the racial differences between women rather than their shared struggles.

Question 5 of 7

What is the negative consequence of the stereotype that Black women are expected to handle immense suffering without succumbing to pressure?

A. It forces Black women to pursue high-stress corporate jobs to prove their worth to society.
B. It encourages a reliance on modern therapy and mental health support that is culturally disconnected.
C. It prevents Black girls from expressing vulnerability and rejecting burdens they do not deserve to carry.
D. It is a stereotype created exclusively by white feminists to exclude Black women from leadership roles.

Question 6 of 7

How does the book contrast the societal reactions to Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj regarding the dance move known as twerking?

A. Both women face equal backlash for participating in a highly sexualized and controversial trend.
B. Nicki Minaj is praised for her cultural authenticity, while Miley Cyrus is ignored by mainstream media.
C. Society expects white women to adopt these moves to show solidarity, but criticizes Black women for not inventing new ones.
D. Miley Cyrus is celebrated and profits from the move, while Nicki Minaj is criticized as being a bad example.

Question 7 of 7

What does the 'crabs-in-a-barrel' theory represent in the context of the Black community's pursuit of success?

A. A networking strategy where successful Black women actively pull each other out of systemic poverty.
B. A mentality of self-preservation where successful individuals avoid helping others up out of fear of losing their own position.
C. A political movement aimed at dismantling the patriarchal structures holding marginalized communities captive.
D. A corporate diversity tactic that pits minority employees against each other for a single leadership position.