The ninth-annual Women of Color Conference ended on Thursday evening with a lecture from keynote speaker Dr. Andrea Smith in 182 Lillis. Smith is co-founder of the national grassroots organization INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence, and she spoke to an audience of approximately 30 members about the violence and oppression that women of color face.
Smith, a professor of American culture and women’s studies at the University of Michigan, began her lecture by examining the current law enforcement system and whether it is helpful for women of color.
“The current system is incapable of addressing issues of violence against women of color,” she said, adding that the United States’ current law enforcement system is rooted in white, capitalistic principles, which do not create healthy communities for people of color.
Smith has worked with American Indian issues, religious traditions and feminism, and advocates the creation of organizations by women of color for women of color. She said INCITE! is an example of a grassroots organization that provides resources to women of color that traditional government organizations do not.
In her speech, Smith described nations where women have little help in fighting sexual violence and oppression.
“(American women) have lost faith in our own collective power to bring change while other countries have more interesting ideas because they don’t have the illusion that the state is going to do anything,” Smith said.
Along with ways in which women of color create more progressive ways to deal with oppression, Smith focused on reproductive rights.
“Both the pro-life and pro-choice camps exclude women of color (because they are) united by their allegiance to white capitalism,” she said.
To remedy the violence and the lack of reproductive rights facing women of color, Smith states that women of color must redefine their “politics of coalition (by) withdrawing from alliances that don’t serve women of color best and recreate alliances.”
Smith said co-founding INCITE! was a culmination of being “so frustrated that women of color were marginalized in the movement and that the movement was so professionalized.” She said it is important for all men and women to organize against oppression and violence.
Audience member and University student Jasmin Thana agreed with Smith’s messages.
“I think she’s really amazing in the sense that she gives a voice to women of color and how their issues are different than, but not separate from, racial justice and gender issues,” she said.
Eugene resident Jeane McKenzie shared similar sentiments.
“I like the way she united capitalism, racism, homophobia, ableism and the oppression of indigenous people,” she said.