Abstract
The discussion of antiracism is not new and in fact is highly disputed in society. However, the hard-hitting book Bodies Out of Place: Theorizing Anti-blackness in U.S. Society, by Barbara Harris Combs, shocks the reader by pointing out how anti-Black racism is still enacted within society with a level of nuanced perfection. Combs explains how offenders know not to use a derogatory term and pivot to a more underhanded route to achieve their objective.
Thus, it becomes difficult to identify inappropriate incidents in a color-blind ideological framework within our ever-changing society. The author suggests addressing this new reality using the Bodies Out of Place (BOP) theory, which explores the false presumption that Black bodies are out of place in certain contexts. This presumption stems from the Jim Crow era, in which Black individuals were expected to “stay in their place,” subservient to the position of white individuals. Physical and social distance creates and operates as a construct to solidify a social hierarchy that has become ingrained within society to justify differences on various levels. Truly understanding place (physical space or symbolic) and its dynamics, as articulated by the author, will enhance the understanding of systematic racial oppression, racial identity formation, and racial relations.
Combs takes a bold stance and illustrates, using racialized events such as the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, how the historical pattern of White pushback against Black advancement centers on controlling and regulating Black bodies. This pushback stems from a fear of lack of power in the future for Whites that leads to their attempts to return Black bodies to a subservient position. She depicts overt and covert forms of control by some members of society (i.e., white supremacist pushback) that work to create a narrative, justify it, rationalize it, and excuse continuous violence against Black bodies. However, the author displays how Black agency resiliently resists efforts at subjugation.
The book has a clear thesis centering on the implementation of BOP. While placing a historical analysis within a new framework can lead to backlash on various levels, the reader should not shy away from this. In fact, the structure of the book creates an environment in which readers can explore whether racial accord in the United States results from every member in society staying within their designated place—and anyone who is divergent, and thus seen as creating an unsuitable reality, being quickly “addressed” in the present to ensure harmony in the future.
The relatable tone and current events structure of this book capture the reader quickly, making it ideal for sociology, women’s studies, and criminology courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level. I used the book recently, and my students gravitated very quickly to the concepts and applicability. However, due to the political climate within society (i.e., anti-wokeness), I would suggest that the facilitator using this book take a moment to highlight recent incidents in American history before assigning the book to create a foundation on which to build participants’ knowledge for the course. The student reader, depending on their life experience, may be skeptical at various points, so skipping this step may ultimately cause later problems within the classroom during discussion or heated debate. The facilitator should take a moment to address and understand the general tone of the classroom population to ensure critical thinking dialogue rather than simply adhering to an established platform. I can attest that the conversations will venture in many divergent directions because the discussion of race-relation issues can be heated.
The contribution of this work is to elevate the discussion of race relations by asking the reader to pause and question whether they have internalized and reinforced their specific position in a segregated population, which includes but is not limited to racial and gendered patterns of inequality. Lastly, classes would also benefit from reading From Selma to Montgomery: The Long March to Freedom (Critical Moments in American History) by Combs.