Personally, I think that the quote explores how Black women are victims of oppression in every form that it comes in. Therefore, if Black women were free, then every form of oppression would have to have been nullified. It would mean that all of the people that are oppressed by the same systems that oppress Black women would also be free. The Combahee River Collective explains how identity politics emerges from our individual identities and often creates the most profound and radical politics. This is in juxtaposition with the idea of working to end another person’s oppression. This concept of identity politics is present in many ways in the film Paris is Burning.
The film features ball competitions, Drag, Vogue, and many individuals of varying and diverse identities. They push to show how the gay and drag subculture can be shed in a new, more positive light. A lot of words are given new meanings to help them accomplish this. The film deeply explores how many of these individuals who are a part of this scene deal with things such as homophobia, racism, AIDS, violence, and poverty. Regarding capitalism and the role that race and gender have with it; capitalism commits itself to economically oppress certain groups of people and groups of certain races and gender. Capitalism is known to exploit labor for private profit and is done so through racial and gender oppression. This results in greater control over the working class.
Hi Nasser, thanks for sharing. I agree with you that capitalism commits itself to economically oppressing certain groups of people and groups of certain races and gender. There is nothing like the experience that people of a certain race and gender have to go through. Its easier to exploit them because of many hardship factors.
Hello Nasser,
In regards to your first statement i think is completely right because those who use black women oppression as a form to control and justify why they can not be free. Capitalism is definitely an economical oppress on groups and exploits those with less to make some kind of profit. I think that The Combahee River is a great piece to read because overall it states how one can contribute to end ones oppression.
Like you, I feel like the quote is about how black women aren’t completely free means that women in general aren’t completely free either, because there are still restrictions for certain women which there shouldn’t be. In the same way, the film is true that it is trying to show all forms of gender diversity, and how it should be accepted so that freedom of expression can be felt in the same way. Also, I feel that capitalism in a certain way discriminates against people because of their gender, race, or even their sexual orientation.
Hey Nassir, I totally agree with you on feelings about capitalism benefiting off of lower class people it is sad the most disgusting part is capitalist having no problem being the reason others cannot prosper
Hello Nassir, very interesting points you make and its funny because as we have these discussions in class. Working at the DOE we’re learnig how to be allies for the LGBTQ community and how to address someone using the proper terms.
Id like to say all if not most beautiful arts roots are from pain, oppression, or the realms of somewhere very dark. Such is the case with Paris is burning there Paradise , their hideaway was built in response to capitalism and oppression
I agree with the capitalism part that capitalism is known to take advantage for private profit and it is done with racial and oppression. The documentary dealt with touching on the subject to talk about.
Hello Nasser, thank your for sharing. The way you explained what the quote meant I agree that black women are victims of oppression in every form. I also agree that the film try’s to show gay and drag subculture in a positive view.