I really enjoyed watching Paris is Burning because of how informative it is. The culture that they live by definitely provides a sense of community which is very inspiring. Overall, this documentary provides support and a kind of safe space for people who relate to these beautiful drag queens, people who society constantly turns their backs on. Listening to the stories of how racism and poverty have affected their lives and how very young people will leave their homes in hopes of finding a place to feel accepted, it made me tear up. We are all people who deserve love and to be free, and so many of us are hurt every day over not being accepted. This was a very interesting and overall enjoyable watch.

The biggest takeaway from The Combahee River Collective Statement is that when Black women are free, everyone would be free, and the system would change. It is so frustrating that Black women are often not given credit for their work, whether in women’s movements or simply in general. This course has really made me realize all the ways the system has failed most of us. Shockingly, the year is 2022, and yet sometimes I feel like not enough has been done, not enough people are actually free.