historicalmenandotherdumbshit:
unpopular opinion but people try to cover up the fact that many 18th century white women, while not having the same power as their husbands, were still awful racists. they’re constantly portrayed as being “’ benevolent masters ”’ who took pity on the people they were keeping enslaved and were the exact opposite to their emotionless husbands, and it just isn’t true. white women participated in vile treatment and the oppression of black men and women just as much as men did. and by calling them ‘pure babies who could do no wrong’, etc, it isn’t helping get rid of the stereotype either.
to quote directly from Olivia A Cole’s blog when she was discussing the issue:
“But white women whipped black bodies. They burned them. They posed next to the murdered bodies of black people who were lynched. They called people n*ggers. They scratched faces. They separated families. While wearing their pretty dresses, they ruined lives.”
The Founding mothers are perfect examples of this.
Martha Washington is this feisty broad who took care of herself while always being there for her powerful hubby, right? Well, yeah. She also had no desire to release her own slaves, gave young women as WEDDING GIFTS, & only released her husbands slaves early because she was afraid someone would assassinate her to get freed early, in accordance with George’s will.
& Dolley Madison was the charismatic first lady who lit up rooms with her decadent outfits & strong, extroverted personality, getting even her reclusive hubby to join in on the fun, right? Well, yes. She was also the one slaves FEARED at Montpelier, to the point where a hired chef caught some of the slaves stealing food & threatened to tell Mr. Madison. They laughed, until he threatened to tell DOLLEY.
Women could be as bad as their husbands.
Women could be WORSE than their husbands.
& frankly, if you don’t believe they had the agency to be horrible, horrible racists, you’re playing into their husband’s belief that they didn’t have agency at all.
QueerAnarchism 