“We might use our position at the bottom to make a clear leap into revolutionary action.  If black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.” This was one of my favorite quotes from the read. This statement directly translates to we are oppressed and so are others. Our liberation is dependent on others’ liberation. This also means that freedom in itself means the fall of the oppressive system. I also loved this quote “The personal is political because everything that is seemingly personal is always already an experience one has within a system of interlocking oppressions.” I can understand people not wanting to be politically active because “there’s no point” but it is vital to the human essence to have a government with which the people agree. When the government does not serve the people, it should be overthrown and abolished.

“identity politics” is the politics of who you are out physically in the world. For example in Paris is burning it was much easier for Livingston to remain accepted in society because though she was gay and a woman she is still white. She is still able to blend in and not feel persecuted. Unlike those of color who are a woman or lgbtq. Being that their experience of existence is already determined not by who they are as people but what their physical attributes represents in their status of life. Being a person of color subjugates one to a life that is not lived at ease. Adding on by being a woman or by being homosexual or trans. Raises the risk of rape and murder. This is because society has conformed to not respecting and dismissing them as people.

i always feel like the reason why gender and race always affect a person is because capitalism has made it that way. It is so odd to me, the limitations  one has to face in a government that is supposed to serve the people. I think all of it are just things the government throws at us to distract us from the bigger picture of what’s really happening. Just as there are poor balaclava people there are poor white people however. The odds are highly against black people nonetheless. The system is just designed to leave minorities where they are and the focus of better pay and an overall better life where the earth is healthy, we are healthy does not exist.