Introduction
In "Thick: And Other Essays," Tressie McMillan Cottom offers a powerful and insightful exploration of race, gender, and class in America. As a Black woman from a working-class background who has achieved academic success, McMillan Cottom brings a unique perspective to her analysis of contemporary social issues. Through a series of essays, she examines the intersections of racism, sexism, and classism, and how these forces shape the experiences of Black women in particular.
The title "Thick" refers not only to McMillan Cottom's physical appearance but also to her intellectual approach. She embraces "thickness" as a way of thinking that resists simplification and instead engages with the full complexity of social issues. By doing so, she challenges readers to consider multiple perspectives and to question their own assumptions about race, gender, and class.
Key Ideas
1. Embracing "Thickness" in Writing and Thinking
McMillan Cottom's journey to embracing her "thickness" began with a personal encounter. At a bar, a man described her as "thick" – referring to her hair, nose, lips, and overall appearance. This comment resonated with her experiences throughout life, where she often felt like she was "too much" in various settings, especially in interactions with white people.
For a long time, McMillan Cottom tried to change herself to fit in. She attempted to lose weight and refine her manners. However, when even her writing was deemed "too thick" by an editor – too complex to be easily categorized as academic, literary, or popular – she had a revelation. Instead of trying to conform, she decided to embrace her thickness in all its forms.
This decision led her to adopt "thick description" in her writing and thinking. Thick description is a concept from the social sciences that emphasizes the importance of context in understanding social behavior. For example, a woman crying at a funeral has a very different meaning than a woman crying at a graduation. By using thick description, McMillan Cottom found a way to express the complexity of her thoughts and experiences.
Her essays in "Thick" exemplify this approach. They draw on social science concepts and methods to examine behavior in context. More importantly, they use McMillan Cottom's position as a "thick" Black woman as a lens through which to view and understand the world. This perspective is crucial because it reveals much about contemporary American society.
Despite progress in some areas, Black women in America still face significant challenges. They are more likely to die younger, earn less money, experience police violence, and be negatively impacted by social policies compared to other groups. By embracing her thickness and using it as a tool for analysis, McMillan Cottom sheds light on these persistent inequalities and their root causes.
2. The Role of Status Symbols for Marginalized Groups
McMillan Cottom shares a powerful anecdote from her childhood that illustrates the importance of status symbols for marginalized groups. Her family's neighbor, an elderly woman caring for her grandchild, had been denied much-needed childcare benefits. Despite the neighbor's efforts, she couldn't convince the social service agency staff that she was entitled to and needed the benefits.
McMillan Cottom's mother decided to help. She dressed up in her finest outfit – a camel-colored cape with matching slacks and knee-high boots – styled her hair, and put on pearl earrings. Speaking in her best "Queen's English," she accompanied the neighbor to the social service agency. In one afternoon, she managed to secure the benefits that the elderly neighbor had been unable to obtain for an entire year.
This experience taught McMillan Cottom a crucial lesson: for poor and Black individuals, dressing well and speaking "properly" can be essential to accessing benefits and opportunities. This is why people from marginalized backgrounds often spend money on status symbols – they need to belong to the right group at the right time to improve their chances of employment, housing, and better job opportunities.
This need for status symbols is particularly acute for Black people and women, who are often judged by harsher standards than white men. Acquiring the "right" status symbols often requires spending money that people don't always have, creating a difficult catch-22 situation.
McMillan Cottom experienced this reality herself when she was in college. A manager at the apartment complex where she worked told her that she knew McMillan Cottom was "OK" because she had worn a name-brand suit to her interview. By wearing an expensive suit, McMillan Cottom had signaled that she "belonged" and deserved the job, despite being a Black woman.
This anecdote highlights the unfair burden placed on marginalized individuals to prove their worth through external symbols. It also demonstrates how systemic inequalities force people to make difficult financial decisions just to have a chance at opportunities that others might take for granted.
3. The Unequal Distribution of Public Discourse
McMillan Cottom draws attention to the stark inequality in who gets to speak and be heard in public discourse. She uses the example of David Brooks, a conservative op-ed columnist for the New York Times, who was given 865 words to write about sandwiches. This seemingly trivial topic was deemed worthy of significant space in a prestigious publication.
The author then asks readers to imagine if a Black woman wanted to write about a mundane topic relevant to her life, such as the silk headscarf she sleeps in or the erratic trash collection in her neighborhood. Would she be given the same platform and word count in the New York Times? The answer is likely no.
This disparity highlights a broader issue: white men, particularly those in positions of privilege, are often given ample space to express their thoughts on a wide range of topics, regardless of how banal or irrelevant they might be. Meanwhile, the perspectives of Black women and other marginalized groups are frequently overlooked or relegated to niche publications.
McMillan Cottom points out that while everyone is expected to listen to and engage with the thoughts of white men, the reverse is rarely true. White men are not required to contend with the thoughts and concerns of Black women because such women are rarely given the opportunity to express themselves in mainstream, prestigious publications.
The author notes that it wasn't until 2018 – 167 years after its founding – that the New York Times hired its first woman of color as an op-ed writer. This glaring omission is particularly striking for a liberal-leaning newspaper that claims to speak to and represent all demographic groups.
McMillan Cottom argues that the exclusion of Black women's voices from prestigious publications is indefensible, especially considering the valuable perspectives they could bring to important debates. For example, in discussions about the rise of fascism around the world, Black women – who have lived under fascist policies like slavery, apartheid, and colonialism – would have unique and valuable insights to offer.
This unequal distribution of public discourse not only silences important voices but also reinforces existing power structures. It perpetuates the idea that the thoughts and experiences of white men are universally relevant and important, while those of marginalized groups are niche or unimportant.
4. The Perception of Black Women as Incompetent
McMillan Cottom explores how the intersecting forces of racism, sexism, and classism position Black women as inherently incompetent, even when it comes to understanding their own bodies. She uses two powerful examples to illustrate this point: the near-fatal childbirth experience of tennis superstar Serena Williams and her own traumatic pregnancy loss.
In 2017, when Serena Williams gave birth to her first child, she experienced life-threatening complications. Shortly after delivery, she developed blood clots in her lungs. Despite being one of the most famous athletes in the world, her urgent requests for critical medical attention were initially dismissed by hospital staff. While Williams eventually received the necessary treatment, many Black women without her fame and resources are not so fortunate.
The author points out a disturbing statistic: in the United States, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, Black women die in childbirth at rates comparable to much poorer countries like Uzbekistan and Mexico. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, Black women are 243 percent more likely to die from pregnancy and childbirth-associated causes than white women.
McMillan Cottom shares her own harrowing experience to further illustrate this point. Four months into her pregnancy, she began bleeding uncontrollably and rushed to the doctor. Despite the severity of her symptoms, she faced a long wait. When the doctor finally saw her, he dismissed her bleeding as mere "spotting" and implied it was related to her being overweight. He sent her home without proper treatment.
At home, McMillan Cottom began experiencing severe pain. She called a nurse and explained her symptoms but was once again dismissed. After three days of unbearable pain, she returned to the hospital. It was then discovered that she hadn't simply been "spotting," but had been in labor for three days. Her daughter was born but tragically died moments after birth.
These experiences highlight how Black women's race and gender often lead medical professionals to view and treat them as incompetent, even when it comes to understanding their own bodies. This perception can have devastating consequences, as seen in both Williams' near-death experience and McMillan Cottom's loss.
The author argues that this perception of incompetence is not limited to medical settings but permeates various aspects of Black women's lives. It's a result of the intersecting oppressions of racism, sexism, and classism, which create barriers to economic opportunities and reinforce stereotypes about Black women's capabilities.
This systemic dismissal of Black women's experiences and knowledge not only puts their health and lives at risk but also contributes to their broader marginalization in society. It undermines their ability to advocate for themselves effectively in various settings, from healthcare to education to the workplace.
5. The Flexibility of White Privilege
McMillan Cottom examines how white privilege adapts and persists, even in seemingly progressive moments. She uses the election of Barack Obama, the first Black president of the United States, as a case study to illustrate this point.
The 2008 election of Obama was seen by many as a watershed moment in American race relations. The fact that a country founded on the enslavement of Black people, and which continued to treat them as second-class citizens for centuries, could elect a Black president seemed to signal a significant shift in racial attitudes.
However, McMillan Cottom argues that while Obama's election was a significant symbolic victory, it did little to change the fundamental dynamics of white-Black relations in America. During Obama's presidency, young Black men continued to be killed at unprecedented rates by police, and Black people remained significantly poorer than their white counterparts.
The author suggests that rather than challenging white privilege, Obama's election revealed how flexible and resilient that privilege is when it comes to defending its own power. Obama was popular among white voters because he reflected their ideal selves back to them without challenging them to consider their personal contributions to structures of inequality and oppression. White Americans embraced Obama because they believed he could change the world without requiring them to change themselves.
McMillan Cottom illustrates this paradox with an anecdote about attending an Obama support event in a wealthy white neighborhood of Charlotte, North Carolina, shortly before the 2008 election. She was struck by the irony of a mostly white crowd gathering to support a Black candidate in a neighborhood shaped by racist housing restrictions designed to keep Black people out.
The author argues that white America wasn't ready to give up its power and privilege, despite voting a Black man into office. This was confirmed by the election of Donald Trump in 2016. While many Americans were shocked by Trump's victory, McMillan Cottom and many other African Americans were not surprised. They understood that white privilege always finds ways to survive and thrive, whether through Obama's presidency or Trump's election.
This analysis highlights the persistence and adaptability of white privilege. Even in moments of apparent progress, such as the election of a Black president, the underlying structures of racial inequality remain largely intact. White privilege finds new ways to assert itself, often by co-opting symbols of progress without making fundamental changes to the system.
6. The Myth of the "Special Black" Person
McMillan Cottom explores the problematic notion of the "special Black" person – a high-achieving Black individual who is seen as exceptional and different from "regular" African Americans. She uses her own experiences to illustrate how this concept manifests and why it's harmful.
During her graduate studies at Emory University, McMillan Cottom attended an academic dinner where a man sitting next to her asked where she was from. When she replied that she was from North Carolina, he insisted, "No, where are you from?" This interaction reveals a common belief about successful Black people: if you're Black and an achiever, you must be some kind of "special Black" person, not a regular African American, especially not one from the South with working-class roots.
The author notes that in the United States, "special Blacks" are often conflated with Black ethnics – people of African descent who don't share the same history of slavery as African Americans. These are usually African immigrants who, in institutions of higher education, are often privileged over African Americans. McMillan Cottom cites a study showing that approximately 40 percent of spots at prestigious Ivy League universities go to Black ethnics rather than African Americans.
This wasn't an isolated incident for McMillan Cottom. She recalls another occasion at a tea party where a woman suggested she should claim Cape Verdean heritage due to her very dark skin. These recurring encounters confirmed to McMillan Cottom that, because of her status as a high-achieving Black woman, she was expected to desire or claim a different kind of Blackness than the one she was born with.
The author argues that the real danger in the notion of "special Blacks" is that it suggests not everyone is worthy of opportunity. If only "special Blacks" merit privileges, it reinforces the idea that "regular Blacks" deserve to be disenfranchised. This concept creates a false hierarchy within the Black community and provides a way for the wider society to justify continued discrimination against the majority of Black people.
McMillan Cottom rejects this notion entirely. She refuses to identify as a "special Black" and instead proudly identifies as "Black-Black." By doing so, she challenges the idea that success and achievement should separate her from her roots or her community.
This analysis reveals how even seemingly positive stereotypes can be harmful. The myth of the "special Black" person serves to divide the Black community and provides a way for the broader society to avoid addressing systemic racism. It suggests that if some Black people can succeed, then the problem lies with those who don't, rather than with the system itself.
7. The Adultification and Abuse of Black Girls
McMillan Cottom delves into the disturbing pattern of sexual abuse experienced by Black girls and women, linking it to societal perceptions that rob them of their childhood and innocence. She begins by noting a troubling trend she's observed in biographies of Black women: many of these inspirational role models have experienced some form of sexual trauma in childhood, often at the hands of family members or acquaintances.
The author recalls an incident from her youth when a male cousin defended boxer Mike Tyson, who was convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman in 1992. Her cousin argued that the victim wasn't a woman but a "ho" (a derogatory term equivalent to "slut"), suggesting she deserved to be raped because she had gone to Tyson's hotel room. This attitude reflects a broader societal problem of victim-blaming and the sexualization of young Black women.
McMillan Cottom cites research that supports this observation. She references Monique W. Norris's 2015 book "Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in School," which notes that Black girls are consistently seen and treated as more adult-like than their white peers. A 2017 survey report by the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality revealed that the majority of the public believes Black girls need less protection and nurturing than white girls.
This perception of Black girls as more mature than they actually are has severe consequences. It makes them more vulnerable to sexual abuse, as they are often not afforded the same protections and considerations given to children. Abusers may justify their actions by viewing these girls as more "adult" and therefore more capable of consent, even when they are clearly minors.
The author also points out how even the methods used to verify abuse can disadvantage Black girls and women. For instance, police often use photographs to document bruises from domestic abuse. However, these bruises may be less visible on darker skin, making it harder for Black women and girls to provide the evidence legally required to support their claims of abuse.
This "adultification" of Black girls is part of a broader pattern of dehumanization that affects Black people in general and Black women in particular. By denying Black girls their childhood and innocence, society makes them more vulnerable to abuse and less likely to receive the support and protection they need.
McMillan Cottom's analysis reveals how intersecting forms of oppression – racism, sexism, and ageism – create unique vulnerabilities for Black girls. The perception of them as more adult-like not only exposes them to higher risks of sexual abuse but also affects how they are treated in schools, by law enforcement, and in other institutional settings.
This discussion highlights the urgent need for society to recognize and address these harmful perceptions. Protecting Black girls requires acknowledging their right to childhood and innocence, and actively working to dismantle the stereotypes that rob them of these fundamental rights.
8. Beauty Standards and the Exclusion of Blackness
McMillan Cottom examines how beauty standards in American society are constructed and reinforced by excluding Blackness. She uses the controversial 2013 MTV Video Music Awards performance by Miley Cyrus as a starting point for this discussion.
In this performance, Cyrus, a young white woman, appropriated twerking, an African American dance style. What made the performance particularly problematic was Cyrus's use of large-bodied Black women as background dancers. These women were relegated to the background in a performance of a dance taken from their culture. Moreover, Cyrus touched their bodies in intimate ways, reinforcing the impression that Black women were simply props in her performance.
The author argues that this performance exemplifies how beauty standards are constructed by excluding Blackness. The Black female bodies in the background were not presented as beautiful in their own right. Instead, they served as a contrast to, and therefore a reinforcement of, Cyrus's blue-eyed, white-skinned, thin-bodied beauty. The performance privileged Cyrus's desirability and beauty precisely by excluding and objectifying the Black bodies behind her.
McMillan Cottom connects this broader cultural phenomenon to her personal experiences. She recounts how, since her school days, her large, dark-skinned body was consistently identified as unattractive or problematic by white people around her. In sixth grade, a white teacher told her that her breasts, which were large for her age, were "distracting." On another occasion, a white classmate expressed admiration for a girl by commenting, "that's a real blonde," communicating to McMillan Cottom that "real blondes" were more socially valuable.
By the time she reached high school, McMillan Cottom understood that being blonde, white, and thin represented standards of ideal beauty that would always exclude her own body. This realization is not just a matter of personal insecurity; it reflects a broader societal issue with far-reaching consequences.
The author argues that these beauty standards not only exclude Black women but also reproduce existing social inequalities. People perceived as beautiful are often given more privileges, which translates to more power in society. When beauty is associated primarily with whiteness, it means those with darker skin are denied this power and its attendant benefits.
This beauty-based discrimination has real-world impacts. McMillan Cottom points out that it's one reason why Black students are more likely to be punished than white students, why Black people often receive higher sentences for crimes, and why Black people are less likely to marry.
By positioning whiteness as the ideal beauty, performances like Cyrus's and broader societal standards affirm, rather than challenge, existing power structures. They not only position Blackness as undesirable but also consolidate white privilege.
This analysis reveals how beauty standards are not merely about personal preferences or aesthetics. They are deeply intertwined with systems of power and oppression, reinforcing racial hierarchies and contributing to the marginalization of Black women in particular.
9. The Importance of Intersectional Feminism
Throughout "Thick," McMillan Cottom emphasizes the crucial importance of intersectional feminism. This approach to feminism recognizes that women face different types and degrees of oppression based not just on their gender, but also on their race, class, sexuality, and other aspects of their identity.
The author contrasts this intersectional approach with mainstream or "pop" feminism, which often privileges the stories and perspectives of celebrities and women who are wealthy, white, or both. She cites examples like Beyoncé's 2014 Video Music Awards performance, where she danced in front of the word "feminist," and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's "lean in" brand of feminism.
While these high-profile instances have helped bring feminism into the mainstream, McMillan Cottom argues that they often fail to address the complex realities faced by women who experience multiple, intersecting forms of oppression. A Black woman from a working-class background, for instance, faces challenges that are distinct from those faced by a wealthy white woman, even though both experience sexism.
The author's own experiences and analyses throughout the book demonstrate why intersectionality is so crucial. As a Black woman from a working-class background who has achieved academic success, McMillan Cottom has a unique perspective on how race, class, and gender intersect to shape opportunities and obstacles.
For example, her discussion of beauty standards shows how racism and sexism combine to exclude Black women from conventional ideals of beauty, with real-world consequences for their social and economic opportunities. Her analysis of the "adultification" of Black girls reveals how race and gender stereotypes interact to make these children more vulnerable to abuse and less likely to receive protection.
McMillan Cottom argues that to practice a truly inclusive feminism, it's necessary to embrace intersectionality. This means considering how class oppression and racial oppression intersect with and feed into the oppression of women. She suggests that the only way to effectively challenge patriarchy is to simultaneously confront racism and capitalism.
This intersectional approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how power operates in society. It recognizes that women's experiences are not monolithic and that effective feminist action must address multiple systems of oppression simultaneously.
The author's call for intersectional feminism is not just about acknowledging different experiences. It's about creating a more inclusive and effective movement for social justice. By centering the voices and experiences of those who face multiple forms of oppression, intersectional feminism can identify and challenge the root causes of inequality more effectively.
McMillan Cottom's work serves as a powerful argument for why we need more diverse voices in feminist discourse. Her perspective as a Black woman from a working-class background provides insights that are often missing from mainstream feminist discussions. By embracing intersectionality, feminism can become a more powerful tool for creating genuine equality and justice for all women, not just those who are privileged by race or class.
Final Thoughts
"Thick: And Other Essays" is a powerful and thought-provoking collection that challenges readers to think more deeply about the intersections of race, gender, and class in contemporary America. Tressie McMillan Cottom's unique perspective as a Black woman from a working-class background who has achieved academic success provides valuable insights into the complex ways that various forms of oppression interact and reinforce each other.
Throughout the book, McMillan Cottom demonstrates the value of "thick" thinking – an approach that resists simplification and instead engages with the full complexity of social issues. By embracing her own "thickness" in both physical appearance and intellectual approach, she offers a model for how we might all cultivate a more nuanced understanding of the world around us.
The essays in this collection cover a wide range of topics, from the importance of status symbols for marginalized groups to the persistent exclusion of Black women from conventional beauty standards. Through each of these discussions, McMillan Cottom reveals how seemingly disparate issues are connected by underlying systems of power and oppression.
One of the book's key strengths is its unflinching examination of difficult truths. McMillan Cottom doesn't shy away from discussing painful personal experiences or challenging societal norms. Her candid reflections on everything from her traumatic pregnancy loss to her experiences of being perceived as "too much" in various settings add a powerful personal dimension to her academic insights.
The author's call for intersectional feminism is particularly important. By highlighting how different forms of oppression intersect and compound each other, she makes a compelling case for why feminist movements need to address racism and classism alongside sexism. This approach offers a more comprehensive and effective strategy for achieving genuine equality and justice.
"Thick" also serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of diverse voices in public discourse. McMillan Cottom's unique perspective allows her to shed light on issues that are often overlooked or misunderstood in mainstream discussions. Her work demonstrates why we need more voices from marginalized communities in academia, journalism, and other fields that shape public opinion.
Ultimately, "Thick: And Other Essays" is a call to action. It challenges readers to examine their own assumptions and biases, to consider how they might be complicit in systems of oppression, and to work towards creating a more just and equitable society. By embracing "thickness" in our thinking and our understanding of others, we can begin to address the complex, intersecting forms of oppression that continue to shape American society.
McMillan Cottom's work reminds us that progress towards true equality requires more than surface-level changes or symbolic victories. It requires a deep, nuanced understanding of how various forms of oppression operate and intersect, and a commitment to addressing these issues at their roots. Through her powerful essays, she provides both the analytical tools and the motivation to engage in this crucial work.