The story involves a group of black women who have been meeting since 1974 and still meet to date to discuss their place in society regarding struggling against class oppression, sexual, heterosexual, and racial abuse (Mirza 189-207). These women find their origin in the Afro-American woman’s continuous life and death struggle for liberation and survival. They refer to themselves as the Black Feminists. Their main aim is to discuss ways to combat and manifold the various forms of oppression that women face. The group believes that the only people who care about them and their liberation are (black feminists). Their politics evolves from their love for themselves, their sisters, and the community, motivating them to continue their struggle and work. They believe that class and race cannot be separated because they have experienced it throughout their lives (Schelenz 224-249). They believe that in their fight against race and sexism, they should stand in solidarity with their fellow black men. These women also believe that men and women will never be equal. Women being in the category for the development of the home, men are made to perform other functions and are thus complementary to each other. In their journey to announce themselves as black feminists, they have encountered the problems of organizing themselves because the organization of white women has continued to grow in many ways and directions (Files 85-91). They are not trying to fight one form of oppression, but the entire form is a problem encountered. During their time of existence, the Black Women’s movement has worked on issues concerning abortion rights, rape, battered women, and sterilization abuse. They have achieved these through doing workshops on high school women, college campuses, and women’s conferences.

“The Combahee River Collective Statement” gets in-depth about feminism. It mentions how feminism threatens black people as a collective. In order to have equality on an individual level, such as in our homes, social constructs and gender roles have to be questioned. Men are usually the leader while a women is beneath him. It is rare that the power dynamic is the opposite way around. Black men have such a negative feeling towards feminism because they are afraid it’ll change their role as a man. They don’t want to be seen as equal, but instead want to feel in power and have authority. They also don’t want to stop oppressing black women. Many women in these relationships agree that it should be equal, but are afraid of speaking out. They don’t want to lose the economic and sexual arrangements in their lives. I really enjoyed,”Paris Is Burning”. I generally like vogue, so to get a glimpse of its history and how it was before was interesting. Its empowering and a safe place for people to be themselves. Everyone has their own identity and flaunts it with confidence. I noticed that the categories at the ball were very different from the ones today. Most of the ones I see now, are more so “dance competitions” with no theme. They felt that the ball was a glimpse of fame on a small level. It’s crazy to see how it’s evolved and how mainstream it is now. We have to give credit to the ones who truly started this movement! It’s beautiful to see different identities form together to do something they’re passionate about.

A specific section in the “Combahee River Collective” statement that really stood out was me was this; “As children we realized that we were different from boys and that we were treated differently. For example, we were told in the same breath to be quiet both for the sake of being “ladylike” and to make us less objectionable in the eyes of white people. As we grew older we became aware of the threat of physical and sexual abuse by men. However, we had no way of conceptualizing what was so apparent to us, what we knew was really happening”. I have also realized that women are treated so differently from boys, and it is interesting to think about how different things would be had boys been raised differently. Young girls grow up not being able to go out at night because the streets are dangerous, not too wear revealing clothing because you’re seducing men and making them think you’re slutty, not to be too loud or aggressive (because that’s for boys) and just to be feminine and obedient. If these things were taught differently and instead it was instilled in boys to be respectful of girls, to be calm and nice, and if they were taught communication and proper ways to express their emotions then things would be completely different. The statement really made me understand more of how feminist issues, back then, did not really relate to the oppression of Black women but was related largely to the oppression that white women were facing, which is a very distinct kind of oppression. This group of women coming together to discuss that and fight for their rights, and the rights of all other black women, is a giant step towards the termination of all oppression for other groups.

One of the most important distinctions that need to be made is real feminism compared to political feminism. I believe this line sums it up ” She claims that the Liberated Woman is sexually active and has a career while Women’s Liberation has to do with sharing housework in the home.” I think it’s odd that men believe women have to do all the housework, especially when much housework can be avoided. Simply taking off your shoes, cleaning the plates, or even doing laundry should not be a “women’s only” task. This leads to the understanding that women have to take care of men. I remember I used to be in a relationship where I was expected to clean up and organize his room every time I went to this boy’s house. What really would upset me was, if my room were ever messy, I’d be judged, and if I asked for help, he would sit on my bed and pretend he wasn’t listening to me or go to the living room.

This week’s reading “The Combahee River Collective Statement (1977)” was very much interesting. It was very intriguing to read what these ladies put together as a collective to draw attention to the many oppression women, especially those of color go through in society. They mentioned the unique oppression that black women face in society and not only sexism but racism, class etc. I also remember them mentioning racism in the White Women’s Moment. They expressed that they felt that white women’s group have little effort in addressing racism in the white women’s feminist movement.  It is so sad that women cannot come together despite race and fight for their position in society because oppressive behaviors (racism) are amongst one another. Therefore, they mentioned that white women sexism is different from black women’s sexism and when thinking about this privilege also comes to mind. Although one might see themself as not being privilege, just image the ones you’ve ignored or pushed aside, how much more oppressed they are than you. “Paris is Burning” also focuses on Identity Politics and shows how one’s identity can affect them in all areas of their lives. Although the African American, Latino, gay, and transgender populations have built their own family within their ballroom, they are this confined under the identity laws of society once they come out into the community. Both reading and film was inspirational as it also us to be activist for our own political reasons and shows us how to fight for what we believe in no matter who is against us.

This weeks readings was really interesting once again, I Never knew that black women had their own separate organization for feminist back in the 70s although I’m not surprised, but one would think that since all women are fighting for the same cause , white women would put aside their ignorant mentality for something greater, reading that essay made sad as well as proud of how much black women were and continued to accomplish till this day. I had read and also seen something about black women working with the panthers but I wasn’t sure if it was within them or a separate organization. black women being victims of both sexism and racism is something that breaks my heart these women had endure the same fate that black men did and yet there were no sign of respect given to them by the same men that saw them being tortured and abused. seeing how despite the disrespect given to them black women still fought besides black men is something be admire because that takes a lot of strength to fight against your own enemy In Times of needs and when I say enemy I mean it in the way black men show sexism toward black women. this also leads me to burning in Paris seeing black gay men fight for their own battles agains homophobia in NYC, not only this but as well as the epidemic of HIV/AIDS that was going on in the communities . these people were not given the resources they needed for their own protection which could’ve been somewhat prevented, but again some communities don’t always receive help from others especially an all black community .

I was really invested in this week’s reading because I’ve been hearing the term “misogynoir” quite often now. I guess I kinda understood it in theory, just by looking at the treatment of black women in our society. Watching Ketanji Jackson’s nomination hearing and comparing it with Brett Kavanaugh’s is all the proof we need. If this is how it is at the top, we can only imagine how it is for regular folks. Reading The Combahee River Collective Statement helped me look at things from a wider perspective, in terms of the intersectionality between the different oppressions black women have to navigate. It is evident to me that black women being free would mean all of us are free.

The film Paris is Burning was equally intriguing. I have always been amazed by the ballroom scene and Voguing. Seeing how it came to be, and how it’s a safe haven for so many young kids was wholesome. The whole concept of “mother” was very heartwarming. The other thing that got me thinking was how so many of the words and phrases used on the internet, came from these scenes. “Slay”, “Serve”, Face”, “Reading”, “Shade”, “Tea” were all created in The Balls. There has been much discourse on how they don’t get the credit they deserve, and have been appropriated by mainstream idea, especially white heterosexual women. I guess this is where identity politics comes to play, and shows how just because you are a part of an oppressed group doesn’t necessarily mean you’d fight against others’ oppression.

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 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. While reading these I was able to determine what the Combahee River collective mean by “identity politics.” Also how I saw this operating in Paris is Burning. It also focused on what did race and gender have to do with capitalism, 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.

This week’s reading, The Combahee River Collective Statement, was such a pleasure to read. I genuinely admire how these women gathered together and wrote such a concise, yet powerful piece on what they expect and how they expect to be treated in society. Not only are they speaking for themselves, but are speaking for an entire group of people and that’s a huge responsibility. As I always get when I read about the unfortunate experiences women go through daily, it’s horrific to think about when that was written, and our present day. Unfortunately, not much has changed since then in regards to the racism and sexism we face, not including physical attacks being made on women. The film that was assigned, Paris is Burning, was also a great film to watch. This semester I am also taking Critical Thinking: Inquiry through Queer Theories, and many of my peers mentioned this film as a must-watch. I very much enjoyed watching everyone come together and build their own homes free of judgment and close-minded opinions. Identity politics is something that I have never truly thought of or learned about in previous courses, but I felt that this film, and reading, were great examples of showing how they play out. It also showed me that just because some aren’t accepting of who you are, you can always find a home elsewhere where you can experience acceptance and love. It was both inspiring and moving to see how we are capable of lifting one another, even when society tries to do the opposite.

What many of us don’t realize/understand is that there are different classes of oppressions. People throughout history and even today are in varieties rails of oppression, for instance race, unequal right between women and man, gay black men, black lesbian women with unequal right. In the March for Women’s suffrage parade black women were only allowed to march in the back. Black women experience some of the worst oppression because they were treated like a second class citizen and their lives were seen as less than a human because of their skin. They Marched at a parade for their equal rights but in the back because they are black. In “Combahee River collective” The author is basically explaining this in her novel, on a political level, Religious belief, herstory, etc. Most stories told in history are never about herstory. In my history class they speak so little information about women, especially those of color. I enjoy watching the film “Paris is burning ”. It illustrates a whole different side of New York residents. The Drag Queens and these interesting balls they attend. This reminded me a lot of the show “Pose” Transgender women feeling less than human. It was extremely hard for them to get any respect as a person. They were not allowed in bars and certain stores. They mostly worked the corners and as show girls trying to make a living and afford dresses for the balls they attended. Black women and Transgender wpmen suffraged the most discrimination for being who they are or choose to be.