Racial Realism or Foolish Optimism: An African American Muslim Woman in the Field
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abstract
This essay discusses a number of identity issues related to what people of color experience in American society, with a particular focus on Derrick Bell's concept of racial realism. The essay looks at Bell's theory as it informs the author's identity as an African American Muslim woman and her work as an archivist and librarian at an academic institution. Although this concept could be considered very pessimistic, the paper discusses how Bell's work actually permits people of color the freedom to work from a platform of self-empowerment.
