[lbo-talk] Re: "master's tools" (was po-mo prince)

JBrown72073 at cs.com JBrown72073 at cs.com
Tue Dec 9 13:30:17 PST 2003


In a message dated 12/9/03 2:48:36 PM, lbo-talk-request at lbo-talk.org writes:


>Hmm, a different context. Getting along in academia means sucking up
>to The Man, when instead all The Excluded should be sticking together
>(not that they necessarily have much in common other than being
>excluded). So does this mean that black lesbian academics should't
>strive for tenure? I'm confused.
>
>Doug

By writing reams of feminist-sounding acababble that are deliberately um, impenetrable, so you won't get into trouble? Sure, fine, but don't call it 'the struggle.' (That's me, not me trying to interpret Lorde.) The way the master's house quote is used in feminist groups is usually to cool out something just as it's getting interesting or effective, usually to promote some kind of absolute nonviolence line or to keep a heated debate from breaking out and clarifying things. I was never sure why we'd want to dismantle the master's house rather than make it into a community center, but once in a while I have been accused of taking things too literally.

Jenny Brown



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