There are multiple sections throughout Anita Cornwell's work, Black Lesbians in White America. This includes Love, Intersectionality, and Sexuality. Since this novel of course tackles mostly Lesbianism, this identity will be an overarching theme for most of the book. Most of these themes can be found in the different sections of Cornwell's book. Firstly, love is mentioned in the section, "Lament for Two Bamboozled Sisters" This is a sequence of letters between Anita Cornwell and her longtime friend Bonnie. Secondly, the theme of intersectionality is found within the section, "Black Lesbians in White America" which contains several essays and personal experiences that describe her time within the Woman's Liberation Movement as a Black Lesbian. Lastly, sexuality is written about in length in the section, "First Love and Other Sorrows". In general, these themes are mentioned throughout the entirety of the novel but are specifically contained in these sections.
Love is one of the main themes of this work. In the section, Lament for Two Bamboozled Sisters", there are multiple examples of this. Cornwell writes, "Love came my way, and I found that state of grace even eased some of the sorrows of yesterday. For once you have learned to love yourself, that love is reflected throughout the universe seemingly. That love sustains me now as I listen to your heartbreak and frantically search for some way to help you to mend your fractured self" (Cornwell, 122). Here she is speaking to Bonnie. Who is hateful towards Cornwell's sexuality and claims there is no love within it. Cornwell's responses to Bonnie are often centered around love. Whether this be the love of herself or others. She has found security in herself. She understands Bonnie's hatefulness towards her. Unlike Cornwell, she is unable to roam freely within her marriage and this burdens her. Cornwell is full of love and this chapter greatly encompasses this.
Intersectionality is the second theme present within this book. Cornwell often talks about the Woman's Liberation Movement and how being Black affects her presence within them. Cornwell writes, "Black women only had one of two choices: either we had to join the Womyn's Liberation Movement and be led by white womyn or we had to become part of the Civil Rights Movement and let Black Men run the show" (Cornwell, 15). This is an issue tackled multiple times within this work. The Woman's Liberation Movement is made up of mostly white women at this time. The Civil Rights Movement is made up of Black Men. How does being a Black Woman fit into these different movements? Anita speaks openly about her unwillingness to join the Civil Rights Movement. She states that the men within this movement cannot include women in their discussions. The Woman's Liberation Movement, although majority white and straight, at least takes into account the woman's voice. Cornwell's sexuality also plays a factor in this decision. Cornwell talks in great length about the conservatism within the Black community.
Sexuality is one of the biggest themes within this book. Since the book itself tackles lesbianism and the intersectionality of the black identity. As mentioned before Cornwell mentions the Black conservatism within the black community. Cornwell writes, "If black conservatism is one orge that keeps the Black Lesbian forever wading in troubled waters, then white racism is the second demon waiting at the other end of the tunnel" (Cornwell, 10). This intersectionality of identities that Cornwell faces limits her ability to roam freely in the eyes of society. Black conservatism relating to sexuality limits burdens her but racism bounds her to eternal discrimination.
The book, Black Lesbians in White America introduces a number of different themes. This includes Love, Intersectionality, and Sexuality. The sections within this work introduce the reader to a number of different subjects. In general this work is still relevant today and continues to show its beauty within these quotes mentioned.
Bev Ditsie was born in South Africa in 1971. Lesbian Activist best known for her South African lesbian Activism
Anita Cornwell Published her book in 1983, a time riddled with discrimination against black and brown men specifically. Cornwell tackles quite a several political issues within her work. Specifically, she focused quite a bit on imprisonment. This is both in the literal terms and the physical terms of the female body. There are several examples of both instances. Firstly, Cornwell recalls her time when she was at a women's rights rally and she heard of George Jacksons' death. George Jackson was an American activist. He was a member of the Black Panthers party. After wrongfully being accused of killing a white guard in prison he was shot in prison (African American Intellectual History Society [AAIHS], 2018). During this period prison activists viewed prison as modern-day slavery. George Jackson specifically was an abolitionist of the system itself. Now there are too many examples of how incarceration continues to be a continuation of slavery. It is often Black and Brown bodies who are incarcerated. For example, people in prison are 37% black but only make up 13% of the population (Prison Policy Initiative, 2023). Since Cornwell's book focuses on sexuality it is also important to note that LGBTQ people are three times amount more likely to be incarcerated. 1/6 transgender people will be incarcerated at one point in their lives (American Civil Liberties Union [ACLU], 2024). This is the physical space of prison but Cornwell also speaks of the psychological prison that women face. There are many instances where she mentions that woman are often held captive in their marriage. They are in relationships with men who value their bodies nor mind. Her last chapter of, Black Lesbians in White America is focused on letters between herself and her friend Bonnie. Bonnie is a mother and a wife. One that is held to her marriage because of the responsibility of her children. She has no freedom in her marriage. Cornwells sexuality gives her the ability to live that the marriage between a man and a woman cannot. This notion may be a little less prominent now. But the idea of the traditional family is certainly decreasing. The "New Family" is emerging which focuses on the changing of spousal roles and the definition of the family (Pew Research Center {PEW] 2010).
The Decline of Marriage And Rise of New Families. (2010, November 18). Pew Research Center. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2010/11/18/the-decline-of-marriage-and-rise-of-new-families/
James, J. (2018, August 21). George Jackson: Dragon Philosopher and Revolutionary Abolitionist. AAIHS. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://www.aaihs.org/george-jackson-dragon-philosopher-and-revolutionary-abolitionist/
Race and ethnicity. (2024). Prison Policy Initiative. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://www.prisonpolicy.org/research/race_and_ethnicity/
Woods, A. (2023, June 23). Pride Has Always Been About Ending Mass Incarceration | ACLU. American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/pride-has-always-been-about-ending-mass-incarceration
Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tomenti the co-founders of BLM
Anita Cornwell's, Black Lesbians in White America, is still relevant today. The themes mentioned including Love, Intersectionality, and Sexuality can be seen within articles from Black Social and Political thought. This can mostly be connected to the memoir When They Call You A Terrorist by Patrisse Cullor's. This memoir has a number of the same themes as Cornwell's novel. Firstly, love is a huge aspect of Cullor's writing. She often writes about the love in her community, her family, and her lovers. This love rejuvenates her. Similarly to Cornwell where the love she experiences with herself and her lovers allows her to thrive. Intersectionality is a huge aspect of When They Call You A Terrorist as well. For example, Cullor's often writes about her brother Monte who was in and out of the prison system. He struggles with mental health issues and is often treated horrifically within the prison system. She then writes how his identity as a black man but also a man with mental health issues affects his life outside of prison. He is treated horrifically both in and outside of prison and his intersection of identities affects this. Lastly, Cullors own sexuality within the memoir is written about in great length. She has several relationships both with men and women. She example of how these relationships affect her and help her grow. Cullor's cousin is also in the LGBTQIA community. Her cousins struggles reflect the reality for a huge number of LGBTQIA+ individuals. In general Cornwell's work is just as relevant today and can be connected directly to modern literature.
Audre Lorde and May Ayim in Berlin
While I was reading this book there was a moment where I fell in love with it. This was the section, "I am Black, Woman, and Poet". This section contains a conversation between Audre Lorde and Anita Cornwell. Throughout their dialogue, Lorde shares her personal stories of sexuality and love. One main quote that stuck out to me was, "I hope for her what I hope for all of us, which is that she will have the ability to achieve completion or to move toward completeness. And I hope she has the ability to recognize where completeness might lie. None of us have any iron-bound guarantees, you know, but hanging in there and living requires a great deal of toughness from us. A kind of toughness that is most gentle usually" (Cornwell, 49). This to me was powerful and beautiful. For context, Lorde is speaking of her daughter Beth. I just found the rawness of this book in general to be my A-ha moment. It is vulnerable and wonderful. That is one take away that I want to give to other students. To understand the rawness of this piece and interpret it into their life.