- What is meant by the following 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.”
The quote from the Combahee River Collective Statement suggests that Blacl women since they are are the bottom as the most oppressed group, have the potential to spark a revolutionary movement that would result in the end of all oppression. The statement is suggesting that the liberation of black women is not only a goal in itself, but also a necessary step towards the liberation of all people who are oppressed. - What does the Combahee River collective mean by “identity politics”? How do you see this operating in Paris is Burning?
It refers to the idea that political struggles are shaped by the specific experiences and identities of the people involved. Since the Combahee River is specifically about the struggles and experiences of black women, and to create space for those experiences to be heard and recognize. In the documentary Paris is Burning, we see identity politics through the ballroom scene, which provides a space for queer and trans people of color to express themselves and find community. The ballroom is a form of resistance, it allows them to celebrate their identities and create their own culture. - What do race and gender have to do with capitalism?
- Both of these systems rely on the exploitation and oppression of different groups in order to maintain power and gain wealth. Capitalism relies on the exploitation of labor which historically has been women and people of color. The systems of racism and sexism serve justify and reinforce the exploitation of these groups. Racism and sexism support capitalism and the only way to dismantle it, its if we dismantle them all.
Discussion 10
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