Outrageous Slurs Against Women of Color Have a Long History
While doing research this morning, I happened to come across an August 2, 1894 New York Times editorial on lynching. The paper’s editors didn’t quite come out in favor of the practice, they were very understanding of it. They referred to “negroes” (it was not until 1930 that the newspaper of record decided to to capitalize the word) as “a race especially disposed to this crime [rape].”
What struck me most, though, was their characterization of anti-lynching leader Ida B. Wells as “a slanderous and nasty-minded mulattress.”
Those words used against an accomplished woman of color a century and a quarter ago have been echoing this week in vicious attacks against the newly chosen Democratic vice presidential candidate, Senator Kamala Harris. “Nasty” is, of course, Donald Trump’s go-to adjective for any woman in a position of power. He has added “angry,” “mean,” and “madwoman.” Online haters have called her a host of racist and sexist names, which I won’t repeat here.
