Black Fragility in American Activism

By Luis Albert Rosales
Black fragility isn’t as common as one may believe. Black fragility is prevalent in activist communities in the United States and it doesn’t express the general sentiment of most black Americans. Expressed primarily in black American activist discussions of culture, ethnicity, and race, racial-cultural exclusivity complicates relationships within dark-skinned communities in the United States.

These activists may define a “black person” differently or have different causes either related to reparations for descendants of slavery or policies that benefit the ‘black’ race as a whole, the latter being more extreme. Yet, many of these Americans are confronted by different perspectives from people of the same or similar race. For example, two immigrants, a Haitian and a South African may have different views on racial dynamics, terminology to refer to various races, and perspectives on social and economic views than a multi-generational black American. As these ideas intersect, they blur the lines on what it means to be ‘black’ in the United States.

Through this mixture, black Americans, as we understand them in the United States, will shift in their views on blackness. Some will rather identify far more with a nationality, an ethnicity, or a general culture. Considering this, those who call themselves “foundational” black Americans consider opposing ethnic views on race as a concern to the progress of their social movements.

Often black American activists will undermine Latino, Criollo, African, and other voices to prioritize black American activism. Black fragility leads to some activists being defensive over alternative views on race, race-mixing, and racial dynamics. For example, some Latinos from the Dominican Republic who may have dark skin may view race as a minor detail. In contrast, some multi-generational black Americans will view race as a primary identifier of one's race and culture. Due to this difference, black Americans would try to exclude dark-skinned Dominicans or undermine their experiences and social or racial views.

In conclusion, as we explore black fragility and how it intersects with racial dynamics outside of American-centric racial views, black American activists have to consider the effects of immigration and how racial views can shift dynamically over time. Black fragility will likely rise in the coming years as American Black communities may have a sense of protectionism as more migrants come to the United States. The understanding of a ‘black’ identity will be challenged in the next few decades as progressive activists must make concessions to alternative perspectives.

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Black Fragility in American Activism