Eromidayo Olayiwola (Harmony)
Prof. Hollis Glaser
GWS 100-1300
Discussion 10
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.”
According to my understanding of the quote, action is required to help tackle the economic marginalization, racial and gender oppression that black women experience, which places them at a low level in all ramifications. This action would then deconstruct all forms of systematic oppression, structural racism and oppression that contributed to the dominance of the white male at all levels. Regardless of the black women’s personalities, they want to be represented at all levels leading to the end of male dominance, stereotypes, and oppression, including discrimination from black men.
What does the Combahee River collective mean by “identity politics”? How do you see this operating in Paris is Burning?
“identity politics” demonstrated the black feminist struggle against racial, sexual, heterosexual, and class oppression. The idea of “Identity, politics” personifies the black feminist motivation for injustice in society. In “Paris is Burning,” Black, queer, trans, and gender nonconforming people describe the struggle, rejection, and discrimination they experienced. They demonstrate their resiliency by creating a community they call “ball,” where they gain confidence, show off their skills, and express how they want to be perceived in society. It demonstrates how identities that are intersected strongly affect and shape one another and revolve around the fight for freedom and survival.
What do race and gender have to do with capitalism?
Since capitalism is an economic and political system in which individuals of different genders and races control a nation’s trade and industry, institutional racism plays a significant role in unfair situations black people are forced to work whereas others are momentarily regarded as doubly valuable tokens at the white-collar and corporate level (CRC.). The system creates unequal rights, power, male supremacy and exploitation of marginalized people in the capitalist system. As long as men are still able to rise to positions of power in the workplace and women are more likely to hold low-level positions, the marginalized group seeks to break free from capitalism. The system is oppressive, interconnected and the only way to end systematic oppression is to address the problems of capitalism, patriarchy, and imperialism.
