How white women use strategic tears to silence women of color

#perspective

The legitimate grievances of brown and black women are no match for the accusations of a white damsel in distress

White Tears/Brown Scars: In her essay collection, Ruby Hamad explores how white feminism has been weaponized against Black and Indigenous women and women of color. She argues that white women’s tears serve as a strategic tool to avoid accountability and silence women of color. When white women cry, it allows them to exit conversations and choose not to listen, while women of color lack that privilege.

Hamad’s work sheds light on the historical and contemporary impact of this tactic, revealing its role in maintaining white privilege and power. It’s a powerful examination of white womanhood that challenges us to consider intersectionality more deeply.