There is generational trauma that people of color carry, following standards and trying to challenge what is the norm. This statement is indeed revolutionary if it were true. Even now that slavery has been abolished, and women have been given rights, some undertones continue to affect how women of color are treated. Take, for instance, Jim Crow laws school-to-prison pipeline. The way media portrays peaceful protests coming from people of color in contrast to white people even now. We can see the way officials acted when white supremacists rampaged through the halls of Congress. If black women were truly free and valued, we would not have the continued segregation happening in Ukraine. They are not being prioritized just like many other people of color there. We would not have colorism. It is what I believe was meant by the quote.
According to River, identity politics is the focus of our oppression that is directly influenced by our identity and experience rather than trying to look at another’s oppression.  In  Paris is Burning, we are introduced to ball culture within this circle of characters who have formed their community after being socially shunned. Presenting interviews with a number of renowned drag queens. Livingston does not live through their oppression and instead gives space, understanding her own privilege as a white middle-class woman. It is a film that shows the resilience of black and Latinx queens, trans, and gender-nonconforming individuals, as they face impersonal and personal forces that attempt to dehumanize them. Working past the hardships of the AIDS pandemic, racism, homophobia, transphobia, pov­erty, homelessness, violence, harassment, and many other issues presented in that era. Challenging one’s perspective, privileges, power dynamics, and biase when viewing the film.
Capitalism presents an unfair standpoint in regard to race and gender. It favors the privileges, and in recent times when looking at abortion laws and the way Tennessee bill that would eliminate the age requirement attempt to control women’s bodies and rights. There is still a gap in wages favoring men. There is a lack of diversity and funding in private institutions for people of color from low-income families. Capitalism attempts to continue profiting from race and gender, keeping the 1% wealthy. There is racial inequality in the United States and division amongst racial groups. This economy depends on racial hierarchy.

I really liked the “Paris Burns” video because it shows desire, passion, love, beauty and melancholy. It shows how life teaches many things and how everything is a sacrifice, for example, older people are tired of the system because they cannot have a normal life because young people and adults can see them as weak, fragile people and even feel sorry for their age and condition. Something that surprised me a lot watching the video was that a grag queen was murdered and left her body under a bed in a hotel as if it was worth nothing, as if his wife was not going to hurt anyone, as if she had no right to to live, the most painful thing was that she also had dreams and wanted to have a family even though the life she led did not give her the opportunity to have one. I think it may be what happens in many cases when they go to intimidate the other person, they don’t know her true gender, they think they are her accomplices and they can even kill her. All this is due to the bars and places that she created to satisfy herself just looking to enjoy the moment. Many people come to do this work out of necessity, because they want to leave their house to run away from some family problem, others because a friend takes them to that life or because they want money and for them it is the easiest way without remembering that they endanger not only their body but also their lives.

In “The Combahee River Collective Declaration” it is observed how identity politics is where the person only focuses on their own oppression. It is mentioned “In the case of black women, this is a particularly disgusting, dangerous, threatening and therefore revolutionary concept because it is obvious from looking at all the political movements that have come before us that anyone is more worthy of liberation than we are.” . themselves”. This shows how darker-skinned women are the ones that society has always marginalized from everything because of the stereotypes created that blue-eyed blondes are the most beautiful and intelligent when that is not true, degrading them as if they were not they had the same value, that. It fills me with rage because every day that passes I try to love and treat people of color better because we are all worth the same.

Capitalism is related to gender and race because whites for generations have always had privileges because society has given them that power and blacks have had to leave their own interests to be worth those of whites.

IMANE CHAABA

DISCUSSION 10

The 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 systems of oppression.” this means that its actually a benefit for the black community to be at the bottom in order to gain freedom and make an end to oppression. Black women were never free from stereotypes, and judgments and that’s where the oppression comes from. They have grown with the dominance of the white privileged so if they were free, the political and economic system wouldn’t be where it is right now. But I still think that if things were different and it there were no differences between people of a different races and gender, our world would be in a very high economic place. If there was no dominance, black women wouldn’t face racism, and discrimination in colleges, workplaces, and government. That’s exactly why the group of lesbian women was fighting very hard to change what people think is natural. What is natural is being equal.

In the movie “Paris is burning “, identity politics is very known and clear between LGBT and drag queens community. They are not once afraid of showing their real identities to the world and it is actually how most of them make their living. They have created an environment with rules where everyone can act and be whoever they want without judgment. In the film, it was very obvious that the movie was more invested in their sexuality rather than politics. But the truth is, their sexuality plays a role in the country’s politics. The people wealthiest gay people have more power and advantage than the ones in the middle class. They have the advantage to get surgeries and looking exactly like females which can open more doors for them. Overall, they are honest people and don’t deserve to be discriminated against.

Women of color have always been facing difficulties to build wealth and that’s because America is a capitalist country. They have always been at the bottom in healthcare, education, and employment. Their value has been put down which makes it hard for them to succeed in life. White privilege controlled every domain in life. White are having all the power and control. Therefore, we can say that race and gender impact capitalism. Your gender and race can either open up opportunities in your life or be your own barrier. People need to get over these old ideas and start appreciating and valuing someone’s origins. Men holding the power is an example of oppression that was normalized decades ago but feminism is standing against it.

The 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” ((1977) The Combahee River Collective Statement), means Black women are at the bottom of America’s hierarchy so they would be the ones to gain freedom last. In order for Black women to be liberated, white women would have to have been liberated already: only after the success of a movement that white people gained from can progression for black people to be considered. We’ve discussed the hierarchy and patriarchy of white America and the overwhelming oppression of Black people, especially Black women. The Combahee River Collective Statement talked about personal polotics and interlocking opression. Shared political and social issues are addressed separately based on your position in America’s hierarchy. As mentioned in the reading, there could be an anti-sexism movement that only focuses on white women. This is where interlocking opression is impactful. Black women can fight for anti-sexism but they would also have to fight for anti-racism. There are multiple oppressions that society puts onto black women simultaneously. All of these oppressions were built into America’s political system which is why it would take the destruction of this system for Black women to gain freedom. 

This same idea contributes to Paris is Burning, identity politics and interlocking opression has to do with your race, gender, sexuality, and class effecting your role in society and politics. People fight for issues that impact themselves which is why when there are movements, white people are the ones that see progression. Black people are viewed as less than in American society and are left to continue to fight and advocate for themselves. The Combahee River Collective Statement and Paris is Burning show identity politics because they had to fight for freedoms for Black, Queer people. There are moments for women as well as Black women and then for Black Queer women. Identity politics shows how you have to fight for your own community. Opressed groups have to unite and support eachother’ s activism to create change.

Race and gender impact your position in society. America is a capitalist society with a system that works to build up some groups and oppress others. White people, specifically white men are at the top of the food chain, given privilege that allows them to climb the capitalist ladder and gain wealth and power. People of color, especially women of color face opression that creates less opportunity and the likeliness of having to work more for a low income. This inequity is necessary for America’s capitalist society to function the way it is currently structured. The upper class (white people/men) benefit from the lower class’s (people of color/women) labor.

Origins within black women’s long-standing struggles for survival and dignity. Developed in response to the exclusions of the black power and women’s movements. The Combahee River Collective was a black feminist group, composed of black lesbian feminists who had met while attending the larger meeting of the National Black FeministOrganization, a large national organization of black feminists, which operated in the office space of the National Organization of Women, one of the biggest national feminists organizations. The members of what would become the Combahee River Collective met this larger gathering and started to splinter off in conversations realizing that their politics around sexuality and anti-capitalism were a bit too radical for the larger black feminist organization. Barbara Smith one of the founders of the collective, suggested the name in honor of Harriet Tubman who, as a soldier in the Union army during the American Civil War led some 750 black slaves to freedom through the Combahee River in South Carolina is one of the biggest military campaigns of the Civil War. This military campaign designed by Tubman was the first military campaign in US history led by a woman and was believed to be the single largest liberation of slaves at any one moment. In Is Capitalism Gendered and Racialized, Joan Acker exposes the development of gendered masculinity that now persists in the system of capitalism. For centuries, men have consistently been in power and dominated many fields including what Acker states as an ” ongoing male project, capitalism “. Immediately, Acker’s words highlight the peculiarity of this project with her emphasis solely centered on men and capitalism, and for good reason. Men are treated as the epitome of success. In becoming more masculine, a man obtains more power in controlling the business market. However, masculinity is but a social construct. According to Acker, ” ‘ being a man ‘ involves cultural images and practices. It always implies a contrast to unidentified femininity. Society has become so centered on making sure men are conforming to this social construct that men and women who are considered feminine are often seen as weak and unassertive in the business world. 

In the (1977) The Combahee River Collective Statement, the quote “We might use our position at the bottom, however, 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.” I believe this quote means that in a world where black women’s struggles are the center of attention, that world would be transformed for everyone else in it. The reason for that is that once Black women are free of their oppressions, the entire system would be destroyed. Black women have to fight oppression on not just one front or even two; there is a list. These women don’t have class, racial, or sexual privilege. Unlike the other groups who have even one of the privileges Black women don’t have, they don’t have access to resources or power.  

In The Combahee River Collective Statement, identity politics is defined as a self-awareness where the individual focuses on one’s own oppression. Politics in which groups of people have a particular identity, such as racial, religious, social, ethnic, or cultural identity, help promote their own interests or concerns without regard to larger political groups. “In the case of Black women, this is a particularly repugnant, dangerous, threatening, and therefore revolutionary concept because it is obvious from looking at all the political movements that have preceded us that anyone is more worthy of liberation than ourselves.” Black women are, in other words, wrongfully always picked last. The most disrespected person in America is the black woman, and too many people are okay with that. 

In the Paris is Burning documentary, the drag queens are aware of how they are oppressed. They put on and attend these balls where they are judged on whether or not they’d convince the world outside this event that they are the gender they are choosing to be/perform as. The documentary explored gender roles and how these beautiful people have to struggle due to their identities, such as racism and poverty.  

Capitalism is tied to race and gender because the system was quite literally built to cater to white people. It is more common for white people to have a higher salary or higher position over people of color. A black woman has to work a lot harder to be at the top over any man and white women. In another area like the marketing of “feminine products,” menstrual products are taxed and overall extremely expensive. I find menstrual capitalism to be terrible. Any person who deals with menstruation should not have to pay for essential products so that others can profit.

The reading gave a big insight into what black feminism is its sole purpose. I feel like the reading discussed a lot of topics that many people aren’t too open about especially when it comes to black women. Black women face a lot of challenges in this white lead patriarchal society. They aren’t taken seriously when it comes to their problems and sometimes they are led to their own demise

“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.” I think this quote to me means that black women hold up society and they are the backbone that helps keep society afloat. A lot of our culture comes from black women and with black women being oppressed we have no way of escaping oppression from our white counterparts. No matter what race you are. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the video, Paris is Burning, because it describes not only the LGBT community sticking together but it also fighting oppression. One thing that stuck out to me from this documentary was that they do these balls so that they can see what it feels like to be like their white male counterparts. In the video, someone was saying how “you can’t be a businessman or an executive unless you’re a white male. In the ballroom, you can be whatever you a white man is.” I noticed that a lot of them know that white people are heavily privileged. One transgender woman described how she wished she was a white blonde girl since she gets whatever she wants no matter how she gets it. 

Race and gender have to do with capitalism because we all know that white people, especially males, no matter what social class you were born in, have a greater advantage than POC. Black women have it harder than anyone else in this society. They are often ridiculed and are forgotten, only to fend for themselves. Their problems aren’t focused on unless it’s a white woman’s problem. White males definitely have a greater advantage because they are seen as leaders whereas male POC aren’t. White people practically are on top of the social class.

This week the importance of identity politics was introduced to me by black feminism I believe. I read A statement or article by THE COMBAHEE RIVER COLLECTIVE. They are A group of Black feminists who have been meeting together since 1974.  They speak out together about struggles like racial, sexual, heterosexual, and class oppression.  Although they are a group of black women, they represent all women and the problems they face. I find this interesting because they are like the black panthers of feminism. I also like that they are speaking up for other women while also dealing with racial oppression. I’d like to think that a white woman goes through the same oppression as black women in 1970 but that was probably not the case.  Black Chinese Indian white it don’t matter I’m sure all women and men have felt oppression. The matter is who is going To speak out for the black women and be about them. A group of black feminist will do so , The Combahee is trying to do so. Throughout reading the statement, they talk about 4 different aspects the Group worries about or covers. I go over a few According to the author “ Issues and projects that collective members have actually worked on are sterilization abuse, abortion rights, battered women, rape and health care”. The need for proper Heathcare , and better abortion rights is very important for any women black or white it should be equal , accessible and fair. Justice should be served to battered and raped women. The genesis of Contemporary Black Feminism is a very informing beginning  after reading the intro.  It gave a little analysis about the history of black women standing up for survival and liberation, and its connection to the American political system that is not really built to support them. A system built off white  male rule. I like that they bring the point that there were many Black women activists even before 1970 … even around the end of the 1800s women like Sojourner Truth , Harriet Tubman showed personal sacrifice, militancy for what they believed in and wanted for others. 

Paris is burning an interesting short film about ball culture and its community. They presented the beautiful things about life like the fashion, how they dance etc and the downfalls like oppression, how they are seen by others outside the ballroom.  the African American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities where basically the people involved in it. This seemed almost like an underground thing at first. People like Pepper LA Beija Angie Extravaganza, and Willi Ninja Dorian Corey are interviewed throughout the short film to get an understanding of what it is like who are such major influences “voguing” and drag balls and turned these small celebrations into a powerful expression of personal pride. The house as they would call it allowed freedom of expression for young teens and adults. They get to go their dressed up as they please. Sadly, when these same people are outside dressed this way, they are seen as completely different and almost odd.  The drag queens honestly started seeing this like winning a Grammy. So basically, over time something so small became bigger and bigger and helpful to many who wanted to dress up differently and be themselves with others and have rewards for how beautiful they look.

The Combahee River Collective Statements consists of a group of feminists who dedicate their lives and time to the betterment of society. To assist people with issues of racism, sexism, oppression and so on. The movement collaborates with other organizations to set and combat policies which favors some and not all, to create and establish situation to which helps the circumstances of people of color.

 Paris is Burning incorporates balls which were formal events to showcase costumes, the applause and having to be the center of attention. Watching this film, I was reminded of the show “Pose”. Pose seems to be an enactment of “Paris is Burning”. Grand events are organized for Drag queens embodies a kind of new world for them. There are underaged kids, some abandoned, some that had left home found solace and joy in participating in the events. They are of their own will to portray whatever they pleased and will not get discriminated. To them, the balls events are their “Oscar” or “Grammy”. They are praised while on the stage and that makes them think highly of themselves. This is a place where people can be whatever they wish to be. 

The ball is used to focus on very specific themes, but as time went on- the themes were made more diverse to increase the involvement and number of participants. Kids who aren’t fully matured, even at tender ages were aware of the kind of life they would face against society for choosing to be different. Lucky enough, for those whom that decided to leave their homes or get abandoned get to be taken in by owners of houses – who had experienced similar circumstances and would like to offer a helping hand. The houses are named after people or persons who had first gained access to it. Winners of the events and/ or ball competitions get prizes, could be a trophy or money. When it comes to competition, the executives always change the theme for the competition, it could be modeling, thus, reading which is like throwing fun shades or voguing, a form of dancing and whilst posing at the same time. Aside from having exhilarating joy from being in the spotlight and enjoying the contemporary freedom, the drag queens have their own hustle, a job on which they depend help support their lifestyle. Drag queens have dreams they wish to obtain which includes getting Famous, to be wealthy, and in general to live freely and happily. 

When I think about where we are in the world today, collectively, I instinctively think about people of color. This is not only due to the oppressive life people of color have been dealt, it is most specifically due to the fact that people of color have been exploited for what they could provide. This is a topic that always leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth, as a woman of color myself. Therefore, when I read 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,” women of color come to the forefront of my mind because of the very real and very corrupt struggle that oppression causes. This oppression affects us all, collectively, because our society is built on people of color, and women of color have been dealt with the brunt of it all. This issue is much bigger than we know because it stems from a genuine place of corruption. 

When the Combahee River collective talk about “identity politics,” they are referring to the fact that when it comes to those in charge, those who have the platform and power to make a real difference in the lives of other, there lacks empathy, justice and equality. It is as though people of color, specifically and most predominately women of color, are forgotten and therefor experience the opposite of liberation. There is a powerful thing that occurs when we find our voice, when we choose to speak our truth and share our intimate experiences with others. This comes from the fact that our stories and experiences bring us together, tying us into a powerful and wonderful union.              

Race and gender are tied to and affect various concepts, therein which exists capitalism. This can be seen in the salary of women of color and what is marketed to us, such as the beauty industry which makes billions of dollars on the premise of our very insecurities. Capitalism quite literally feeds off of us, exploiting and further enabling a disconnect between our identities and our experiences in the day to day. In layman’s terms, the system was built with only those who are not people of color to thrive and prosper, in an attempt to keep people of color in a stagnant place.