"Black women must be strong, brilliant, and overqualified and work twice as hard just to receive no credit and less pay," is a quote from Taiyon Coleman's new book Travelling Without Moving, a collection of essays about a black woman's experiences in America.
Coleman, a descendent of southern slaves and the first person in her family to graduate from college, addresses the extent to which black women work to survive while navigating mental and physical health issues, infant loss, unemployment and other issues that are experienced at a higher rate for black women than other demographics.
In her book, Coleman states that racism has not dissipated but rather it has compounded. Structural racism - such as redlining and unfair judicial systems - can lead people of intersectional identities to be left behind. "All of us, no matter who we are, can show up in structures like housing and work to try to achieve a goal but we can inadvertently perpetuate racist outcomes," says Coleman. "I do think sometimes it can be overwhelming, it can be hard to understand."
As an educator, Coleman believes that learning is a tool to overcoming systemic issues and circumstances and can help many reach the goals that might otherwise have been unattainable. Education opens doors that were locked and creates opportunities for people from all different backgrounds.
Traveling Without Moving can be found at various booksellers and online through the University of Minnesota Press website.
Minnesota Reads is produced at The North 103.3 with funding provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
