I am your biggest fan

I am not a woman. I do not no what it is like to be a female practicing or studying law; however, I do want to share my feelings with my female counterparts. There is something about me that she needs to know. On the surface, she and I have nothing in common. She and her friends have the option of putting their hair up or leaving it down. I have one style—bald. They have the choice of wearing the skirt suit or the pant suit. I have always chosen the latter. During finals few of them chose to shave their legs—well I did not shave mine either. Like her, I too have stayed up all night, received a puddle of red ink on my first writing assignment, and was nervous the first time my teacher called on me in Torts. I suppose these are all things all law students experience, both male and female. However, when ever she first steps into a room people notice it before they even shake her hand. She is a woman. Often times, she is not, “one of them.” For me, I am not one of them either. I am a black man. She and I, we share something. Before we even have a chance to speak, people automatically make assumptions about us. We have both been called “girl” or “boy,” even though we are just as qualified as any other male student or attorney. We often are seen as the representative of our entire group. We play with guys; however, some of them are not always willing to accept us. For better or for worse, we are different. I know what it is like to be different. I know that she knows too. I pray that she and I will both use our differences to our advantage. I believe in her. I know she can do it. I do not think that she knows it; it is not like I have ever said it to her. However, I would like to tell her now: I am your biggest fan. I only hope that you feel the same way about me.

4 Comments

Kalokagathia February 14, 2007

I just love this post. I am your biggest fan!

Eralon February 15, 2007

You’re amazing. I love this post and that it focuses on similarities rather than differences. I’m your biggest fan as well.

Legal Eagle February 20, 2007

I was bowled over by this post, too. But I don’t feel like that’s enough. People who share progressive values spend so much time dividing themselves into activities by identity: women’s groups, black groups, latino groups, and so on. How can I do a better job supporting my colleagues of color? Suggestions wanted…

granolagoddess February 23, 2007

I think, as a lesbian, as a white woman, that I need to be the one to educate myself and make changes in terms of issues of institutionalized racism. I can be an advocate for racial equity. I can work harder to alleviate the oppression that men and women of color experience generally, and in our profession. I also know, that as a lesbian, as a feminist, white women have not always been kind to our sisters of color, and that people of color, men, specifically, have not always been willing to be open to a feminist perspective/way of being. Patriarchy is rampant in this country, and people of color are not an exception, and racism is a huge problem in women’s cirles, be they feminist, lesbian or both. We all need to look at ourselves, first, and then work to build bridges. The upshot is, that men should not wait around for women to point out the sexism or homophobia is a specific issue, nor should white women wait around for people of color to name something racist. Trust will then be the bridge to a common goal of egalitarianism. Elizabeth Alexander, J.D. ~Most men lead lives of quiet desperation~ Henry David Thoreau

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