The quote ‘we might use our position at the bottom to make a clear leap into revolutionary action’ is a veiled statement that carries meaning. In the late 20th century, racism, gender inequality, hate crimes, homophobia, and every other system of oppression were still present and active. Laws prevented one from wearing clothes of the opposite gender, but people were slowly coming out and dressing as they identified themselves. Most people affected by racism and hate crimes came from impoverished communities. They were living from hand to mouth at the bottom of the food chain. Their position at the bottom gave them a common unifying factor called hope. These people wanted better futures for their children. Driven by their common poverty and oppression, they easily came together to fight for what they wanted.When the Combahee collective statement was written in 1977, the black women were under siege. Some laws prevented them from taking on leadership positions, getting an education, or even owning businesses. Issues involving racism, gender inequality, sexism, and hate crimes against members of the LGBTQ+ community all affected black women. Therefore, if women were to be free truly, all those systems of oppression would have to be destroyed to give them privileges equal to those of a normal white person during that time. Identity politics can be described as the tendency for a particular group of people to develop political agendas based on their identity. The Combahee River Collective was a black feminist lesbian socialist organization.
Identity politics would see them support political aspirants or alliances that would promise to pass policies that gave a bit more freedom. For example, if a political aspirant promised to pass a policy legalizing same-sex marriages for such a group, they would support them. In the documentary Paris is burning, identity politics come into play with the underground ball movement consisting of houses with mothers and fathers. They eventually led to the formation of other drag queen movements that had political agendas that promoted policies giving them freedoms they previously never had.
Capitalism is where wealth is accumulated among a few individuals and families at the top. During the 18 and 1900s, slavery and laws favoring white people led to wealth accumulation among the British and Americans. These systems promoted passing laws preventing people of color from owning property or land. Years of the slave trade and gender inequality continued to entrench the capitalist system that saw the wealth distributed among specific races and men while women and people of color were left to wallow at the bottom.
