Beyond the Mother Knot: Trauma and Intersectionality in Suzan-Lori Parks’ In the Blood
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1508.05Keywords:
intersectionality, racial trauma, aversive racism, stereotype, the mother knotAbstract
This paper examines the impact of multi-layered oppression on individuals and society, explicitly referring to Black women's marginalization in Suzan-Lori Parks' In the Blood. It focuses on how race, gender, and class intersect to form the trauma of the protagonist, which ultimately leads to the unraveling of the mother knot. By such an integration of PTSD theory, intersectional feminism, and social critique, the study presents a new approach to examining racial trauma and systemic oppression. The findings indicate that Black women are subject to institutional, cultural, and individual oppression, which reinforces racial stereotypes and economic exploitation. The cyclical oppression is manifested in psychological distress, avoidance behaviors, and ultimately violent eruptions. The research points to the role of systemic racism in condoning sexual and economic abuse, leading to the tragic death of the protagonist. It calls for further research on the effects of multi-dimensional oppression on the vulnerable and urges policymakers to act in response to institutionalized discrimination. The paper proposes extending intersectional feminist analysis to study the cumulative impact of oppression on identity and agency. By exploring Parks' play, this research contributes to promoting studies within racial trauma, systemic inequality, and socio-psychological implications of long-standing oppression scholarship by emphasizing the importance of inclusive policy and literary critique capturing the voices of the marginalized.
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