The Invisibility of Black Women in Predominantly White Institututions

“The only time I was noticed in any space was when topics related to blackness arose. Otherwise, I would be deemed intimidating and unapproachable at first glance.”

I would not say that I have been the most popular person or deemed the most attractive in a room. However, I have always known with conviction that there were people who would be attracted to me. When I came to my predominantly white institution (PWI), this belief was absolutely shaken. For the first time, nobody would give me a second glance or the time of day. 

With time I began to reflect upon this further than merely on a romantic level. I began looking at it on a general level. It made me realize the lengths of “pretty privilege” and how they tie into someone’s value in a community. 

The only time I was noticed in any space was when topics related to blackness arose. Otherwise, I would be deemed intimidating and unapproachable at first glance. 

“White women telling Black women that they ‘don’t understand why you haven’t hooked up with anyone because you’re so pretty’ is incredibly frustrating. It highlighted to me how they are able to gain from white supremacy and still feel like they could be on our side all in the name of ‘womanhood.’”

This drove me insane as I consider myself to be a friendly person who tries to acknowledge and talk to most people on our campus. I started to dive into a hole of self-doubt and frustration until I started speaking to other Black women at PWIs. I learned that the white academic social structure simply leaves no space for Black women to flourish unless they are athletes, provide some sort of motherly connection to people, or deliver entertainment to them. It is not that I wanted the attention of white people, but I just wanted to feel that my presence was, at the very least, acknowledged on my campus. 

Interestingly, all throughout this time, white women would tell me that I was so beautiful while also expressing how they felt ugly and not wanted. Simultaneously, they were receiving attention for their looks. This would infuriate me. It felt like a slap in the face and a general disregard for the “pretty privilege” they benefit from based on a white beauty standard. White women think we are on the same boat.

White women telling Black women that they “don’t understand why you haven’t hooked up with anyone because you’re so pretty” is incredibly frustrating. It highlighted to me how they are able to gain from white supremacy and still feel like they could be on our side all in the name of “womanhood.” 

They were failing to acknowledge their complicity in society pulling the cloak of invisibility over us. 

For the most part, I would say this does not bother me anymore because I know my worth… but I’m only human, so it still gets to me from time to time.

"Ryerson's Black Students Conference">by <https://www.flickr.com/photos/66373750@N02|FonnaTasha> is licensed under<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=ccsearch&atype=rich|CC BY 2.0>