How Uneven Systems Maintain Power Despite Resistance

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How do “uneven” systems maintain power despite resistance?
By drawing on the work of Hua Hsu and Saidiya Hartman, this essay will explore the various tactics that "uneven" systems use to maintain power. Both authors illustrate how these systems rely on physical and cultural means to suppress resistance. Hsu's analysis of monuments, for example, demonstrates how the construction of symbols can be used to legitimize certain narratives and ideologies (Hsu, pg. 1). Hartman's examination of the marginalization of black women, on the other hand, shows how the exclusion of certain voices from mainstream discourse can work to silence dissent (Hartman, pg. 232). By considering these perspectives, this essay will argue that systems of power employ a variety of tactics to maintain their dominance, even in the face of resistance.
Uneven systems can maintain power by relying on force and coercion. For example, an autocratic regime might use its military and police forces to crush protests and deter resistance. However, As Hsu discusses in his article, monuments can have an outsized impact on the way we understand history. They can symbolize power, creating a sense of permanence and inevitability for those in control. This is especially apparent in the case of Confederate monuments, which were often erected not in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War and during the Jim Crow era as a way of reaffirming white supremacy (Hsu, pg. 3). As Hartman notes, this exclusion means that black women's resistance strategies, such as idleness, refusal to work, and sociality, are often misunderstood and criminalized (Hartman, pg. 232). This treatment further silences black women and inhibits their ability to mobilize against ongoing inequalities. This trend speaks to the power of collective action to reshape the public landscape and create new, more inclusive narratives.
These systems can also use propaganda or disinformation to control the narrative and discourage dissent. For example, a dictatorship might control the media to suppress negative stories about the regime and amplify its messaging. As Hsu points out, the term "monument" can be used to describe a wide range of structures that have been used throughout history to convey particular messages or symbolize specific values (pg. 3). What is perhaps unique about the recent protests against monuments in the United States is the way that they challenge this traditionally one-sided conversation. Activists use the symbols of power that have been used to dominate them to resist and redefine the narrative. Further, Hartman discusses this as evident in how social workers and reformers often pathologized black women like Esther, attributing their behavior to "too much freedom" rather than acknowledging the structural forces that shape their struggles (pg. 232). This framing justifies the continued policing and criminalization of black women, inhibiting their ability to resist effectively. When resistance is seen as a problem to be managed rather than as a response to injustice, it becomes easier for those in power...