“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 quote means that there still exists hope for women, and especially black women, to revolutionize into a world where they can be free. The author of this quote is realistic, although pessimistic about where black women are positioned in the political society. Black women are at the bottom in the capitalistic economy. However, the quote encourages feminists and black women to take advantage of that position and take action or fight for the position they believe they deserve. Consequently, the second sentence of the quote means by the time black women are liberated, then that means that everyone else under the oppression of the system will be liberated by then. Black women are at the very bottom such that they are not a priority to be accorded their freedom, and when they become free, then it means everyone else would have been freed based on their position, and all systems of oppression will have been destroyed.

By identity politics, the Combahee River collective means that everyone thinks that political agendas are only radical if they are based upon the identity of the people. This is done with total disregard for what other people, especially those who are not of the same identity, are going through, including oppression. It should be enough that, for instance, all women are recognized as humans, and oppression of black women is ended irrespective of their identity based on race. Identity politics can be seen operating in Paris is Burning such that despite the performers being good artists, they are often socially shunned mainly because they identify as part of the transgender community. Their identity based on their sexuality is used to create an agenda such that they have a community that provides them with a sense of support, while at the same time, they flourish irrespective of what the larger society thinks of them.

Race and gender are intertwined with capitalism. Race because of the oppression of black men and other minority groups by the majority such that in the capitalist economy, black men are exploited by the majority for profits. Material resources being one of the major means of production are also not equally distributed for all based on race, hence capitalism. Gender, on the other hand, has to do with capitalism due to the inequalities between the two sexes and sexism against women. Black women, for instance, not only face sexism from the majority of whites but also from their fellow black men. Capitalism aims at increasing the profits of the few controlling the means of production privately. Gender plays a critical role such that women have been considered the weak gender and are denied the opportunity to lead such an economy to reap the benefits and profits despite being part of the labor force. Therefore, race and gender have something to do with capitalism because they are both factors that enhance inequality, which is also a situation in which capitalism thrives.

“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.

The film ” Paris is burning” by Jenny Livingston a narrative that compels watchers to go up against awkward questions with respect to benefit, personality, and social class.Jennie Livingston coordinated the narrative film “Paris Is Burning” in 1990. It was delivered within the mid-to-late 1980s and covers Unused York City’s ball culture as well as the African-American, Latino, cheerful, and transgender populaces engaged.They have set up their possess progressive society in which they make their possess families, share accounts as well as lodging and other necessities, and the ball world in which they can live their genuine personalities, which are prohibited from the regulating universes of womenswear, and modeling completely different viewpoints. They’re practicing personality legislative issues exterior of the assembly hall, where they’re still subjected to the mistreatment they’ve incidentally cleared out behind at the balls. It’s moreover worth noticing that legislative issues is at play in this film. Jenny was a white lesbian woman, that’s being blamed of being predatory by many of those who were filmed. The Combahee Waterway Collective Articulation perusing was composed between 1974 and 1980, the Combahee Waterway Collective was a Dark Women’s activist Lesbian organization. This intrigue bunch was shaped since it was felt that not one or the other the woman’s rights nor the respectful rights developments enough tended to the issues of Dark ladies and lesbians.The taking after cite implies “We might utilize our position at the foot to create a clear jump into progressive activity. In case dark ladies were free, it would mean that everybody else would ought to be free since our opportunity would require the devastation of all the frameworks of oppression” we may take advantage of our position at the foot to create a striking hop into progressive movement. In case Dark ladies were free, everybody else would have to be be free as well, since our opportunity would request the annulment of all harsh systems.The Combahee Waterway Collective Statement’s objective It interfaces societal issues that influence ladies and Dark individuals, such as sexual and racial discrimination and homophobia, to provide an essential viewpoint for progress. Through the massive mixing of people, diverse cultural practices, and products, capitalism introduces women and men to fresh concepts. Traditional societies that impose gender hierarchy are less oppressed by capitalism.

The quote “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.” signifies that black women lie at the bottom of the socioeconomic hierarchy. The termination of black women’s oppression would rid all other systems of oppression, simply because the oppression of black women is the precedent to those systems. The Combahee River Collective is a group of black women that fight for the realization of black women’s oppression as much different than that of white women. It details how oppression exists for black women, much differently than that of white women’s and made society question the women’s movement, as it was not completely inclusive of all women but instead related to the suffrage of white women and their issues of inequality when compared to their male, white counterparts. The Combahee River Collective states ‘the most profound and potentially most radical politics come directly out of our own identity, as opposed to working to end somebody else’s oppression.’” In other words, identity politics is fighting to end our own oppression, instead of someone else’s, and realizing that that oppression is an effect or experience of the politics put in place by societal structures. You can see this operating in Paris is Burning throughout the entire film, as the actors as Black and Latinx queer, trans, and gender non-conforming individuals that fight against these forces that are trying to negate their identities and force them to be something else. Capitalism is related to race and gender because it creates inequalities and exposes men and women to new ideas in the outside world. Capitalist development allows women to work outside of the home, as well as inside as that is a notion that we cannot seem to terminate, yet subjects them to things such as unequal pay, workplace discrimination, etc. It generates inequalities in race as well, as in capitalist environments white men are at the top of the socioeconomic hierarchy as the individuals who make the most money and minorities are most likely working/lower class and tend to be poorer and take government aid and things of that sort. Capitalist economies also create competition between individuals of different races and genders as “success” is measured by the wealth that one obtains and refers to such a relentless, hardworking individual making loads of money — possibly through the acquisition of multiple businesses, a stellar job after attending school for 10-12 years for the highest job title possible, etc.

The Combahee River Collective Statement 1977, written by the members of the collective is a black feminist group who met in during 1974-1980 to clarify and practice their black feminist politics. Their goal is to focus on the struggles of those who experience interlocking oppression. The women who belong to this group experience all these oppressions in a unique way. The reason as to why their oppression are unique is because to experience sexism is not the same to experience racist sexism. Black women experience of sexism is different from White women experiences of sexism. The genesis of Contemporary Black Feminism explains that the origins of black feminism are in the continuous live and death struggle for survival and liberation from oppression. Th beginnings of Black feminism came from black women’s personal experiences including black women who do not identify as feminists but have experienced sexual oppression in their daily lives. The third section “What we believe” they don’t believe that sexism is essential to maleness meaning that being a male does not mean you’re an oppressor. In the third section they speak about problems and organizing black feminists. They mention that their primary focus is to shed light on whole range of oppressions. They mention that they do not have racial, sexual, heterosexual, or class privilege to rely upon and so they do not have any access to resources or power that other groups have access to. In the fourth section the collective discusses black feminist issues and projects they have been involved with. They are concerned with any situation that limits the freedom of women third world people, working people, especially people facing racism, sexism, and class issues. They have worked on many political projects such as sterilization abuse, abortion rights, battered women, rape and health care. The collective states they are committed to a continuous examination of their politics as they continue to develop.

The film” Paris is burning” by Jenny Livingston documents the rise of a community made up of African American and Hispanics gay men, drag queens and transgender women. The documentary showcase how privilege, identity, and social class comes into play with identity politics. They share their experience of rejection with family and outer community and how their identity impacted their access to healthcare and job opportunities. The film “Paris is Burning” proves to the world of cinema that the impact of LGBTQ culture was well received within the community itself and that people what to hear, know and see the LGBTQ art.

the combahee river statement left me a lot to think about, discussing how black women went through a lot of struggles back then and still do now is something to think of, you would think back then because women were all fighting for the same cause some sort of respect would be given to all but I guess that was not the case for back women. they still had to fight for racism as well as sexisms. the following quote ” we might use our position at the bottom to make a clear leap into revolution 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 ” to men this quote symbolizes how black women where seem to be placed at the very bottom of everything , they would still fight to make sure that those women who were placed last had someone fight for their right as well. black women who were victims of racism from white men and women and also were victims of sexism from their black men had no one to fight for them till a black group of feminist came along considering white women were fighting for the rights of their fellow whites. to answer the following quote “identity politics”? I believe it means that women identify themselves within politics meaning they called themselves the national black feminist organizations to have their own way of being represented to the public while they were fighting for thousands of black women all over the country, and I see this too in the documentary Paris is burning how black gay men found a way to identify themselves as drag queens among other things so they public knew how to and how they should be addressed and not how everyone decided to called them. not so long I go I too watched a tv show very similar to this documentary that show how many gay black men struggled a lot with racisms and oppression back in the 90s as well as disgust from their family members because of what they chose to be, also not to mention how many people in the community died and struggled with HIV/AIDS. I believe race and gender have something to contribute to capitalims if women hadn’t fought for their rights we wouldn’t have women working which adds more to the capitalism of this country as well as race, why? because if it wasn’t because of black people that were used as slaves this country wouldn’t be where it is right now which again contributes a lot to the capitalist of this country. our economic system relies heavily on African Americans and immigrants.

The Combahee River Collective Statement, written by the members of the collective, is made up of powerful and bold statements in regards to the inequality, sexism, and racism they face daily. They call our attention to the many indecencies that continue to recur over and over again throughout history. To me, the quote “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”, expresses the fearlessness and eagerness that these women have to acquire the basic human rights that have been owed to them for a long time. Not only would we have to eliminate one form of oppression in hopes to liberate black women, but ALL systems of oppression. These systems include racism, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, and even capitalism.
Race and gender have a big influence on capitalism. Capitalism is defined as, “an economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.” As many of us know, these private owners, or private property owners, pass down their inheritances from one generation to another, and they are mostly made up of white males. Although it is said that capitalism “reduces oppression of societies that imposes hierarchies of gender”, that is simply not true. As the Combahee River Collective stated, “Our economic position is still at the very bottom of the American capitalistic economy”. Unfortunately, this does not come as a surprise to any of us who are aware of the inequality that has taken place in this country for decades.

The Combahee River Collective defines identity politics as focusing on their oppressions as those seen and suffered throughout history and rejecting any form of inequality and racist/sexist behavior. In their statement they state, We believe that sexual politics under patriarchy is as pervasive in Black women’s lives as are the politics of class and race. We also often find it difficult to separate race from class from sex oppression because in our lives they are most often experienced simultaneously. We know that there is such a thing as racial-sexual oppression which is neither solely racial nor solely sexual.” When you are constantly beaten down and preyed upon due to your race and gender, it is hard to pinpoint which oppression is which. In their statement, they also state, “We are all damaged people merely by virtue of being Black women. We are dispossessed psychologically and on every other level, and yet we feel the necessity to struggle to change the condition of all Black women.” These struggles are oppressions that no single person should ever have to endure. We can also see this operation in Paris is Burning by the bond that the drag queens create after coming together to battle against the many oppressions and racist/sexist actions that they all experience. Similar to the Combahee River Collective, the houses in the film experience exclusion and rejection, not only from their families but also from society for their gender expression and sexual orientations.

The film ” Paris is burning” by  Jenny Livingston a documentary that compels viewers to confront uncomfortable questions regarding privilege, identity, and social class.Jennie Livingston directed the documentary film “Paris Is Burning” in 1990. It was produced in the mid-to-late 1980s and covers New York City’s ball culture as well as the African-American, Latino, gay, and transgender populations engaged.They have established their own revolutionary society in which they create their own families, share finances as well as housing and other necessities, and the ball world in which they can live their true identities, which are excluded from the normative worlds of womenswear, and  modeling in different  aspects. They’re practicing identity politics outside of the ballroom, where they’re still subjected to the persecution they’ve temporarily left behind at the balls. It’s also worth noting that politics is at play in this film. Jenny was a white lesbian lady, that is being accused of being predatory by many of those who were filmed. The Combahee River Collective Statement reading was written between 1974 and 1980, the Combahee River Collective was a Black Feminist Lesbian organization. This interdisciplinary group was formed because it was felt that neither the feminism nor the civil rights movements adequately addressed the issues of Black women and lesbians.The following quote means “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”  we may take advantage of our position at the bottom to make a bold jump into revolutionary activity. If Black women were free, everyone else would have to be free as well, because our freedom would demand the abolition of all oppressive systems.The Combahee River Collective Statement’s goal It connects societal issues that affect women and Black people, such as sexual and racial discrimination and homophobia, to provide an essential viewpoint for progress. Through the massive mixing of people, diverse cultural practices, and products, capitalism introduces women and men to fresh concepts. Traditional societies that impose gender hierarchy are less oppressed by capitalism.

‘Conflict Theory’ was first developed by Karl Marx to explain that society is in a perpetual state of conflict between different groups fighting over resources, status and power. This phenomenon can be seen throughout history where the oppressors have subjugated people on the basis or race, sex, class, and sexuality, among other things. We only have to look at black women, oppressed on multiple fonts, to understand how evident the ill-treatment is. They face racism from a system run by white people, sexism and homophobia from a patriarchal society, and classism by an unjust system that itself limits their economic standing. So when The Combahee River Collective say, “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”, they mean that only when black women are free from oppressions, we can be assured that all systems of oppression have been destroyed. Black women are disproportionately disadvantaged by every single one of these systems, and hence strive to revolt against all of them. Unlike other demographics, let’s say well-to-do white women, black women can’t just exist peacefully when sexism topples if racism and classism still exists.

The Combahee River collective emphasizes the importance of ‘identity politics’. They claim that the revolution against oppression that stems from the struggles of one’s identity (racial, gender, sexual or class) is more substantial than the one’s we fight for others. This sentiment can be seen echoed in Paris is Burning, where we can see how gay, black men created a space for themselves where they can be unabashedly themselves and partake in every joy society denied them. This was their way of rebelling against the system that wouldn’t accept them, let alone represent them (in executive positions in the workplace, as models and actors and other privileges heterosexual people and white people enjoyed). Their politics, their movement is in response to their identity as members of the LGBTQIA+, as people of color, as members of the working class.

Capitalism, an economic model, seems to have no bearings on social constructs like gender and race at first glance. However, one must remember that these people, of different race and gender comprise the members of the capitalist system. We have the groups that own the resources and the group that work to produce these resources. In a system like ours, people of color and women vary rarely own these resources due to the barriers set up by people in power. Generational wealth, historical policies that limit the ownership of property and systematic racism have given an unfair advantage to white men. Others are left to work from them; women of color are often the on the bottom of the totem pole. Capitalism is just another way for them to hoard all the powers and make others do their bidding whilst not being explicitly racist or sexist despite being built on racism and sexism. I mean there’s no law that says only white men can be in power. However, it is the reality since there has been little efforts to uplift disadvantaged people. True equality cannot be achieved in a society where someone does all the work and someone else gets to reap the benefits.

What is meant by the quote is, black women suffered the ultimate oppression. Oppression that places them at the furthest possible place. There were multiple oppressions, racism, sexism, women’s suffrage, equal rights amendment, hetesexualism etc. Black women had to deal with more than one of these problems. Which is why the author so metaphorically says  “We might use our position at the bottom”. The traumas and fear of class oppression does not get any worst then being a colored individual, who is lesbian, and she is a women. A bottom tier character in society is what black women have been and still are battling everyday. “A clear leap into revolutionary action” This means when you are at the bottom of the change of life or important people there is no way to go but up. This quote is a metaphor for black women making a decision to work their way up to equal rinks as white men. “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.” I think it explains that considering black women are at the bottom of the change of importance, if they received equal rights and freedom to do absolutely anything. This meant everyone else should be freed too. The term “identity politics’ ‘ means Politics only caters in favor of a specific gender, in this case white men. Most laws that are put out only benefit men. For instance, the law that only men can vote is beneficial for men in America, not women. In “Paris is Burning” film, many of the young speakers said that society only caters to men and women, not transsgender or others. They can’t make a way in the world because people excluded transgender or gay men from being somebody because of their gender they choose. Which is where the ball comes in, these balls are held to make them feel like they can be whoever they want. A businessman going into work in Manhattan, school teacher, the next Marilyn Monroe or Christie Brinkley, a dancer, actor/actress, a respected  politician, soldier, etc. These are just a few of the things they are denied they can’t be. Politics only worked in favor to white men during the 20th century. I believe race and gender has to do with Capitalism for the simple fact that the governrment tries to control the transgender and black women. They thought they did not deserve to be a part of the wealthy living lifestyles. Politicians believe they must have big businesses for transgenders and black women to shop at and no career to maintain a living.