Respectability politics is rampant in today’s political sphere.
“Look like a thug and get treated like one”
“I can tell she’s ghetto because wears a bonnet in public.”
“…he was no angel”
These quotes represent what Black Americans frequently hear when faced with discrimination. The push for respectability, a concept promoted by both Black and White Americans, raises critical questions. Can respectability “save” Black Americans? If we assimilate, can we uplift our race, fight for social justice, and protect ourselves? Alternatively, is assimilation merely a ploy to erase the culture of Black Americans?
The Concept of Respectability Politics
In the pursuit of equity and social acceptance, respectability politics has often been imposed on Black Americans as a strategy for staying safe and successful in a predominantly racist society. The idea is that conforming to mainstream norms in dress, speech, and behavior will lead to acceptance and, consequently, reduce racial discrimination. However, history and lived experiences reveal that respectability politics and assimilation are ineffective in dismantling systemic racism.
Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham coined the term “politics of respectability” in her book, In Righteous Discontent: The Women’s Movement in the Black Baptist Church 1880-1920. She described it as a strategy aimed at encouraging Black audiences to adopt respectable behaviors while demonstrating to White audiences that Black Americans could be demure.
Respectability politics emerged as a form of resistance to integrate Black Americans into White society and counter negative stereotypes about marginalized groups. Facing extreme discrimination and violence, Civil Rights leaders promoted self-improvement and moral decency, believing that demonstrating respectability would garner respect. This approach emphasized education, economic self-sufficiency, and adherence to societal norms. However, did this approach really have the desired effect?
The Civil Rights Era
The Civil Rights Movement marked a significant shift in the discourse around respectability politics. One of its most influential expressions was the commitment to nonviolence. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his supporters believed nonviolent resistance would expose the moral bankruptcy of segregation and racism. By refusing to retaliate against violent attacks, civil rights activists sought to demonstrate their moral superiority and expose the broader public to the vile effects of racism and segregation.
Images of “well” dressed Black men and women enduring police brutality, fire hoses, and attack dogs with stoic determination became iconic symbols of the movement. These images challenged stereotypes of Black Americans as inherently violent. The goal of nonviolent protest often emphasized maintaining dignity and decorum in the face of brutal opposition. By presenting themselves as respectable, Black American activists aimed to challenge deeply ingrained negative stereotypes held by many White Americans.
Other influential African American leaders like author and educator, Booker T. Washington advocated for self-help, education, and vocational training as means to uplift the race. Washington’s philosophy encouraged Black Americans to demonstrate their worthiness of equal rights through hard work and moral integrity.
However, the movement also saw the emergence of voices challenging the limitations of respectability politics. Activists like Malcolm X and groups like the Black Panther Party argued that conforming to White standards of respectability often meant suppressing cultural identity and ignoring the core of oppression.
A Critique of Respectability Politics
Respectability politics can be described as behavior management. This concept, long connected with the struggles of marginalized communities, involves conforming to mainstream societal norms and values to combat stereotypes and seek acceptance. While it has historical roots in various social justice movements, including the Civil Rights Movement, respectability politics remains a contentious and often problematic strategy.
One of the primary criticisms of respectability politics is that it places an undue burden on marginalized individuals to conform to the dominant culture’s standards. This expectation implies that acceptance and equality can only be achieved through personal transformation rather than systemic change. It demands individuals change their behavior, appearance, and even cultural expressions to be deemed worthy of respect and dignity.
This burden of conformity is particularly problematic because it shifts focus away from addressing the root causes of inequality. Instead of challenging the structural and institutional barriers that perpetuate discrimination, respectability politics often encourages individuals to adapt to an oppressive system. This approach can obscure the systemic nature of racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination, placing the onus for change on the marginalized rather than the oppressor.
Respectability politics can inadvertently reinforce harmful stereotypes and stigmatize those who do not or cannot conform to mainstream standards. By promoting a narrow definition of “respectable” behavior and appearance, this strategy implicitly suggests that those who do not fit this mold are less deserving of respect and equal treatment. This can create division within marginalized communities, as individuals who do not conform may be viewed as “problematic.”
Problematic Reinforcement
Moreover, respectability politics can perpetuate the notion that marginalized individuals must prove their worthiness to the dominant culture. This reinforces the idea that respect and equality are conditional, dependent on one’s ability to conform to external standards. Such a notion undermines the fundamental principle that all individuals, regardless of their background or behavior, are inherently deserving of dignity and human rights.
Another significant issue with respectability politics is that it can silence authentic voices and experiences within marginalized communities. By prioritizing conformity to mainstream norms, this strategy often marginalizes those who embrace their unique cultural identities and expressions. It can discourage individuals from speaking out about their lived experiences, particularly if those experiences do not align with the dominant culture’s expectations.
This silencing effect can be particularly detrimental in social justice movements, where diverse voices and perspectives are essential for addressing complex issues. When respectability politics dictate who gets to be heard and who does not, it can limit the movement’s ability to fully understand and address the multifaceted nature of oppression. Authentic representation is critical for creating inclusive and effective social change.
respectability politics can perpetuate the notion that marginalized individuals must prove their worthiness to the dominant culture.
Respectability Politics
Respectability politics can also undermine solidarity and unity within marginalized communities. By creating a hierarchy of respectability, this strategy can foster division and competition among individuals and groups. Those who conform to mainstream standards may be pitted against those who do not, leading to internal conflicts and weakening the collective strength of the movement. True social change requires solidarity and unity among marginalized communities. When respectability politics create division, it can hinder the ability to build alliances and work together toward common goals. A movement that embraces diversity and inclusivity, rather than conformity, is better equipped to challenge systemic oppression and advocate for meaningful change.
Perhaps one of the most insidious aspects of respectability politics is the illusion of acceptance it creates. While conforming to mainstream standards may lead to temporary approval from the dominant culture, it does not address the underlying issues of discrimination and inequality. Acceptance gained through conformity is often superficial and conditional. True equality and justice require a transformation of societal attitudes and structures, not just individual behavior. Respectability politics may offer a temporary abatement from discrimination, but it does not challenge the fundamental power dynamics that perpetuate oppression. Genuine acceptance and equality can only be achieved through systemic change that recognizes and values the inherent worth of all individuals, regardless of their conformity to mainstream norms.
Respectability and Citizenship
For many expatriates, the journey to citizenship is filled with challenges, both legal and cultural. One of the more subtle yet prevalent obstacles they face is the pressure to conform to the norms of the dominant class. This involves adopting behaviors, appearances, and values that align with the culture’s standards to gain acceptance and avoid discrimination. While it may offer a pathway to social inclusion and legal recognition, these actions often come with its own set of complexities.
The underlying implication is that expatriates must prove their worthiness for citizenship by demonstrating their ability to fit into the dominant culture’s society.
However, this expectation of conformity can be incredibly taxing. It often requires expatriates to suppress their cultural identities and heritage, leading to an internal conflict between maintaining one’s cultural roots and seeking acceptance in a new country. This constant pressure to present “correctly” can also create a sense of alienation.
Resistance Over Respectability
In an era where social justice movements have gained more attention, the debate surrounding resistance versus respectability politics has become increasingly relevant. While respectability politics emphasize conformity to mainstream societal norms to gain acceptance and rights, resistance embraces a more radical, unapologetic approach. As the landscape of activism evolves, it’s time to recognize the power of resistance and why it should take precedence over the constraints of respectability politics.
Resistance challenges the status quo head-on. It refuses to negotiate or dilute its message to appease those in power. This approach is more than just a strategy; it is a declaration of self-worth and a demand for justice on one’s own terms. Resistance is about authenticity, about bringing one’s whole self to the fight for justice without sacrificing identity for acceptance.
Movements like Black Lives Matter exemplify this ethos. It does not ask for permission to exist; it demands recognition and justice. It does not conform to mainstream expectations; it challenges them. This form of activism has reignited a sense of urgency and authenticity in the fight for social justice, inspiring a new generation of activists to embrace their identities and stand firm in their demands.
Respectability politics often create a narrow, exclusionary framework that leaves many behind. By prioritizing behavior and appearance that align with dominant cultural norms, it marginalizes those who cannot or choose not to conform. This can include individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations, and other intersecting identities.
Moving Forward
As we look to the future of social justice activism, it is essential to embrace resistance. This means supporting and uplifting voices that refuse to conform, that challenge the status quo, and that demand justice on their own terms. It means recognizing that the fight for equality is not about earning acceptance from those in power, but about reclaiming power and asserting one’s right to exist and thrive as their whole selves.
This does not mean that strategic considerations are irrelevant. Effective activism often requires careful planning and alliance-building. However, these strategies should not come at the expense of authenticity and self-respect. The most powerful movements are those that remain true to their core values and principles, even in the face of adversity.
In a world that often seeks to silence and marginalize, resistance is a radical act of self-love and empowerment. It is a declaration that we will not be defined by the limitations others impose on us. By embracing resistance, we honor our authentic selves and pave the way for a more just and inclusive future.
References
Chen, E. & Dorsey, J. (2021, July 1). Understanding…respectability politics. Studio Atao. Retrieved from https://www.studioatao.org/respectability-politics
Gross, K.N. (1997). Examining the politics of respectability in African American studies. Almanac, 43(28). Retrieved from https://almanac.upenn.edu/archive/v43/n28/benchmrk.html
Ibe, O. (2022, February 15). Playing the game of respectability politics, but what cost? Verywell Mind. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/playing-the-game-of-respectability-politics-5215862
Starkey, B. S. (2016, December 12). Respectability politics: How a flawed conversation sabotages Black lives. Andscape. Retrieved from https://andscape.com/features/respectability-politics-how-a-flawed-conversation-sabotages-black-lives/
