I really enjoyed this week’s readings. The power of identity politics really helped me clear up any confusion I had with accurately defining identity politics. The example of the blonde woman disregarding the bigger picture of her opinion was spot on. Her opinion stems from the lack of knowledge white people have when it comes down to “I don’t see color” – one statement which I have definitely heard before. Power plays a huge role in defining identity politics, how it differs from feeling empowered, and how the blond chose to blatantly ignore power in that situation. Garza also included how identity politics first appeared in The Combahee River Collective Statement. As we read last week, the Collective’s statement helps us understand why identities play a big role in forming safe spaces for those who experience power differently from white people.
The blog post, Too Latina to be Black, Too Black to be Latina also relates to the discussion of identity politics where Williams is unsure of where she fits in in terms of her race. Of course, she didn’t think twice about this problem before it was brought to her attention in school. It doesn’t surprise me that the identity dynamic is so different outside of New York. Lots of people are never taught to understand these politics, and how the power surrounding us is the reason why people are treated unfairly.