Reconsidering Intersectionality: Falsity, Negativity, and Radical Racial Pragmatism in Social Work Praxis

The present historical juncture, characterized by overuse of the word “intersectionality” and underappreciation for its historical evolution and intention, warrants not only clarification of intersectionality as a concept, but thoroughgoing reconsideration of its contemporary utility and limitations. This is precisely the task undertaken in this article. Upon close scrutiny, extant theories of intersectionality fall upon a continuum ranging from falsity to negativity, the former indicating misrepresentation of identity through reliance on categories, the latter suggesting deconstruction to the point of making translation into practice difficult or impossible. Neither theoretical extreme of this continuum, nor any point in between, advances the intended mission of racial justice without also creating new problems or inflicting collateral social damage. This necessitates a theoretical and practical push beyond intersectionality toward a new project of radical racial pragmatism in social work praxis. Radical racial pragmatism offers a platform from which to begin a campaign for racial justice that avoids the obstacles of falsity and negativity by adhering to a program centering upon provisional racial relationality, epistemological and moral pluralism, and participatory, interracial democracy. The liberatory and transformative aspiration that guides but ultimately eludes intersectional theorization is thus restored by radical racial pragmatism in social work praxis.