Bodies out of Place: Theorizing Anti-blackness in U.S. Society

297 Pages·2022·17.261 MB·English

by  Barbara Harris Combs

Bodies out of Place
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Series Editors
David L. Brunsma
David G. Embrick
Series Advisory Board
Margaret Abraham
Elijah Anderson
Eduardo Bonilla- Silva
Philomena Essed
James Fenelon
Evelyn Nakano Glenn
Tanya Golash-B oza
David Theo Goldberg
Patricia Hill Collins
José Itzigsohn
Amanda Lewis
Michael Omi
Victor Rios
Mary Romero
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Bodies
out of Place
Theorizing Anti-b lackness in
U.S. Society
Barbara Harris Combs
The University of Georgia Press
Athens
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Sociology of Race and © 2022 by the University of Georgia Press
Ethnicity web page Athens, Georgia 30602
www.ugapress.org
All rights reserved
Set in 10.5/13.5 Garamond Premier Pro Regular
by Kaelin Chappell Broaddus
Most University of Georgia Press titles are
available from popular e- book vendors.
Printed digitally
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: Combs, Barbara (Barbara Harris), author.
Title: Bodies out of place : theorizing anti-blackness
in U.S. society / Barbara Harris Combs.
Description: Athens : The University of Georgia Press,
[2022] | Series: Sociology of race and ethnicity |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: lccn 2021058919 | isbn 9780820362366
(hardback) | isbn 9780820362359 (paperback)
| isbn 9780820362373 (ebook)
Subjects: lcsh: African Americans—Social conditions.
| African Americans—Violence against. | Racism—
United States. | Human body (Philosophy) | Place
(Philosophy) | United States—Race relations.
Classification: lcc e185.86 .c5819 2022 | ddc
305.896/073—dc23/eng/20220222
lc record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021058919
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To Darrell and our wonderful children—
Breann, Jason, and Nia, the baby we lost.
Nia, thank you for teaching me the invaluable
lesson that purpose (the meaning of your name)
never dies.
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
Part I. Connecting the Dots
Chapter 1. Testify 9
Chapter 2. This I Believe: The New Social Order
Is the Old Social Order 29
Chapter 3. The Pushback 49
Part II. BOP Frames
Chapter 4. The Historical Fear Factor 79
Chapter 5. Presumed Criminal 96
Chapter 6. Massah Has Spoken 112
Chapter 7. You Don’t Belong Here! 127
Chapter 8. It’s All White Space 142
Part III. Do You See What I See?
Chapter 9. The Weight 157
Chapter 10. Sincere Ignorance and
Conscientious Stupidity 180
Chapter 11. Policy Matters 194
Chapter 12. Tell “the Story”: Lest We Forget 203
Notes 217
Index 275
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I reflect on all the people who somehow contributed to this book. First, I give all
glory and praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He put a song in my heart
and gave me the courage to sing it. God also put a number of people in my path
who have helped me to get here. Ironically, some of them are not even known
to me. I am profoundly grateful to the anonymous reviewers of this book. Their
comments reflect countless hours of sacrifice and commitment. Even if the acad-
emy does not recognize the import of that labor, I do. I commit to helping others
do the same. Someday I hope to publicly recognize them and their sacrifice. I am
awestruck by their willingness to share their time and intellect. This work is im-
measurably improved because of them.
I am an exhorter. I love lifting other people up. It is part of my nature. It is re-
warding work, but it can also be exhausting and thankless, especially as exhort-
ers are seldom likewise the beneficiaries of encouragement. That is probably why
I am especially appreciative of other encouragers. As they say: “Game recognize
game.” I see you, Zandria Felice Robinson, and I am so pleased and honored to
call you my friend. You are a beyond measure treasure, and, despite your own daz-
zlingly bright light and the warmth that emanates from it, you are always ready
to lift others and let them shine without fear of it diminishing you. Thank you
also to Kirsten Dellinger for your unwavering faith in me and ready willingness to
share some the burdens of others, so they did not have to carry it alone. Thank you
to my Sistah Scholar circle from the University of Mississippi—Deirdre Cooper
Owens, Shennette Garrett- Scott, Jodi Skipper, and Mikki Harris. Thank you to
my “Cos” (community of scholars) from Clark Atlanta University—Obie Clay-
ton, Danille Taylor, Eve Graves, Maurita Poole, Corinne Warrener, Teri Platt, E.
Ken Shell, Kenya Jones, and Leonissa Johnson. Everyone should have a group of
cheerleaders like you in their lives. Other cheerleaders include my OpEd Project
family (Katie Orenstein, Anya Tudisco, Njeri Mathis Rutledge, Mary Curtis, and
too many others to name—you are so brilliant!), the Green Family (John, Elea-
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