Fanon, Bald and Maimouna Youseff
-
Sartre argues that Jews are faced with "overdetermination from within," which means that their behavior and, by extension, their identity are shaped by the stereotypes circulating about them. Out of fear of confirming these stereotypes, a Jewish person may adopt behaviors aimed at proving the contrary and demonstrating that they do not conform to the prejudices. In other words, in attempting to counter the expectations imposed by stereotypes, Jews find themselves in a position where their actions are continually influenced by these external representations.
In contrast, Fanon asserts that Black people experience a different reality: that of being "enslaved to their own appearance," meaning they are slaves to their own appearance, and not societal norms. Their appearance is a constant and tangible factor in the experience of racism, shaping every aspect of their life, from social opportunities to personal safety. Thus, Black people are "overdetermined from without," which means they do not have the possibility to let their actions speak to counter preconceived ideas, since their skin color, according to white norms, already places them in a stigmatizing category from which it is difficult to extricate oneself.
This idea of "overdetermination from within" versus "overdetermined from without" can be applied to various contexts. For example, as a Muslim woman, I notice a significant difference in treatment between myself and my friends or family members who wear the hijab. While I pay attention to my behavior to avoid reinforcing stereotypes about Muslims, Hijabis are often directly categorized as being oppressed by their religion and culture simply because of their appearance: their hijab becomes a visible mark that instantly determines their treatment, regardless of their individual actions.
J.J. Singh’s approach to the “problem” of the 3,000 Indians already in the U.S. differed markedly from that of Ibrahim Choudhry. While Choudhry advocated for the working class and spoke “for the many,” Singh chose to focus exclusively on “the more highly qualified,” specifically Indian businessmen (Bald, 3-4). In my opinion, this reflects a form of internalized racism and class elitism.
Indeed, Singh’s selective advocacy suggests an attempt to align with the societal standards of white America. By concentrating on educated Indians “scientists, engineers, and businesspeople”, Singh aimed to integrate this segment into the higher social strata, seeking to gain acceptance from the white elite, and white community as a whole (Bald, 5). This focus on economic and social status indicates a desire to fit into the established social hierarchy, which privileges wealth and education.For me, Singh's approach demonstrates an effort to ‘be on the same level as the white man’—rich, superior, and high on the social scale, which implicitly rejects the working-class immigrants, who are also marginalized in this vision of assimilation.
As a Black and Indigenous woman, Youseff’s voice is often marginalized, thus her insistence on telling her story reflects a broader struggle against systemic white supremacy that frequently erases or ignores Black and Indigenous voices. Like Dala stated, Youseff’s focus on greatness is not merely a pursuit of personal ego but a necessity. In a world where Black voices are often disregarded, achieving a certain level of prominence or greatness becomes a means to ensure that her story is heard and acknowledged. This need for greatness is tied to the harsh reality that, without it, Black individuals have to fight harder to be recognized and to have their experiences validated. Her quest for greatness is thus a reflection of the broader societal dynamics where Black people need to present a compelling reason for their voices to be heard.
-
The point about hijabis is a good one and relates to our discussion of Eve Torres as well. Because of time constraints, we might not speak about this in the "Race and Class" module but definitely will later on, especially in the "Reasonable Accommodation" class.