Black feminism started when white feminist leaders did not share the voices of black women. After reading (1977) THE COMBAHEE RIVER COLLECTIVE STATEMENT it was clear that the same issue black feminists of the 70s tried to solve is the same issue we face today. Black women are not only oppressed because of the color of their skin but for simply being a woman and for those who are a part of the LGBTQ community they face a triple threat from society. Black women or not only oppressed by the white man but the men of their own community. Some black men do not agree with black women being feminists and prefer to hold on to the oppression they have over black women instead of seeing them as their equals much like the white men. However black women face and must fight against multiple forms of oppression, oppression of race, sex, and sexual identity. Black women from a young age are sexualized in our communities many black women have faced sexual assault by their own relatives.  The article reads, “Issues and projects that collective members have actually worked on are sterilization abuse, abortion rights, battered women, rape and health care. We have also done many workshops and educational on Black feminism on college campuses, at women’s conferences, and most recently for high school women.” Black feminists all over have been dealing with these issues since their teenage years and saw their mother sisters going through the same thing. I think black feminists have contributed more to the world of feminism because they are fighting not only for all women but children and people of color, along with the LGBTQ community. Even today black women of the LGBTIQ community are treated inhumanely look at the rate of black trans women that have been killed over the past 2 years or the black lesbian women how are shamed for just being themselves. Black feminists are fighting against oppression for the girls, the gays, and POC.

Paris is Burning really touched my heart, being a part of the LGBTQ community and knowing people that have had to go through similar situations like the young men in the documentary. It is very sad to know that families disown their children for being true to their identities. On the other hand, it is better to adopt a family that will give you love and is with you through thick and thin rather than being treated like you are lesser than by your blood. This documentary reminded me of the TV series POSE, if you have not seen it, it is about these houses that compete at a ball every week, but it shows the trials and tribulations of a queer person in the 80s. one of the man characters is this young man who wants to be a dancer and he is in the closet because he is afraid his parents will disown him. eventually, his father finds out that he is gay; beats him, and proceeds to say he no longer has a son. It is very sad that their so-called parents stop loving their kids just because they are not who they want them to be. I appreciate Kevin Kimble’s post featuring legendary because it really does show the confidence and strength house families give each other. If you haven’t seen Pose it’s a great show to see what queer people dealt with within the 80s.