Through our candid discourse, we have interrogated the (wo)Men of this unit as well as their "unspoken" or perhaps "invisible" roles in racial theories and discourses of today. We've gone from discussing "felon," to acknowledging the humanity in these individuals. We've also unpacked upcoming black superheroes and their Afrocentricity in the upcoming film, Black Panther. Finally, we're ending our dialogue with recognizing the three Black Queer women who founded the BLM organization. Perhaps they've made us aware of perspectives that we likely hadn't previously considered. While I'm still interested in what has resonated with you the most, I'd also like to know how has this Unit enlightened you? Has it changed you? Do you see progression for these invisible wo(Men)? Please share. And, thank you for a thought provoking semester. It has truly been a pleasure!
Due: Thurs., 11/30/17 by 9pm.
As we begin this unit, I was first thrilled that we would study the African-American superhero. Yes! This theme resonated with me in a way that left me as excited, as getting my birthday gifts. But, as the unit begin to unfold and we started taking a look at the structure and background of these “Superheroes,” I begin to see the importance of the way they are depicted and I begin to take a more analytical look at these characters. I moved away from the sheer entertainment, to the desire to see a little deeper behind the characterization and visualization of the characters.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the discussion on the anti-hero phenomenon. Black Panther is one such hero. Here is an individual that is morning the loss of his father, the king, and now has the responsibility of an entire nation on his shoulders. He is aided in meeting his duties by an all-female Special Forces organization from his nation. The all-female organization is feminine strength personified and depicts African-American women in strong intelligent roles that not only encompasses their physical beauty but, intellectual beauty.
#BlackLivesMatter, founders were another example of beauty and strength personified. These women saw a need and stood-up to the call. I was surprised to find that their ideas and the premise of the organization was taken and distorted on so many occasions, that the founders are constantly battling to take back their brand. Through this discovery I also understood that by advocating for black lives, the original suppressed people, all other people will benefit. As stated in the article by one of the founders, Alicia Garza, “The women’s movement, the Chicano liberation movement, queer movements, and many more have adopted the strategies, tactics and theory of the Black liberation movement. And if we are committed to a world where all lives matter, we are called to support the very movement that inspired and activated so many more. That means supporting and acknowledging Black lives.”
I agree with everything you said especially "if we are committed to a world where all lives matter, we are called to support the very movement that inspired and activated so many more. That means supporting and acknowledging Black lives.” So many times I hear people saying "All lives matter" in response to "Black lives matter". It's not like we are saying one group of people matter more than another. BLM is saying that more attention needs to be brought to the fact that black lives matter to because our country doesn't reflect that.
DeleteOne piece of information from this unit that resonated with me, was finding out that the creators of the BLM organization were queer black women. As a black queer women myself, this representation is important to me. Growing up I did not see many people who I felt were similar to me. When we discussed the humanity of felons, I was also affected by that. I have two very close family members who are felons, one is still incarcerated. A lot of the information I learned this unit helped me gain a better understanding as to why my cousins and so many other felons have trouble making a better life for themselves. The system makes it impossible. This unit has changed me because I would always wonder to myself “Why can’t Stephen get a job. Is he even trying?” I no longer have this view. Yes he is trying, but when you are labeled a “felon” trying to better your life can feel like you’re running in circles. I think the more we educate others on this topic, the more progression we will see. I found an interesting article that gives felons tips on ways to find a job.
ReplyDeletehttps://exoffenders.net/finding-jobs-felony/
Unit Four has been the most profound to me. As an African American woman, Unit four in this class has showed me some very concerning themes. For starters, I was unaware that lesbian woman were the founders of the black lives matter group. The are dealing with two struggles in itself: being black and being gay. African Americans aren't show as humans much. None the less as heros. In Unit four we watched Luke Cage and we also went over Black panther. Luke Cage was humanized as a black man on television. He was a felon become hero. The black super hero theme enlightened me the most about this unit. The invisible woman theme can be changed. Black woman and TV roles have to be better established. Shows like love and hip hop are bad examples of black woman on television. It was a pleasure having this class.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you when you said African Americans aren’t viewed as humans much. I don’t think we have fully gotten away from being slaves or called property. They have always used and abused our talents and resources and to finally see a black superhero standing up for something good is very refreshing!!
DeleteI personally do not feel like I was surprised or changed by the information in this unit because I was already so familiar with the majority of it; however, many aspects of this united resonated with me. In Alicia Garza's open letter, a concept that she introduced is the fetishization and profiting off of of queer folk simultaneously occurring as the hatred and discrediting of them. The Black Lives matter campaign is spearheaded by three Queer Black Woman, but frequently, her phrase was taken by other outlets and transformed to connect with their platform rather than being true to the original meaning of it. This shows how black people, women, and the people of the LGBTQIA+ community are being silenced and marginalized. Another aspect of this unit that resonated with me is representation. Representation matters so much. Black kids are, from the time they are birthed into this world, that they are not good enough. When they are growing up, they are presented, in media and cinema, with nothing but black people being less than. We are shown nothing but our people dying, families falling apart, black people as criminals, felons, and killers, etc. With constantly being told you aren't good enough, you can't blame black children for starting to believe it and then treating themselves as if they are nothing; they have been given nothing else t believe. Luke Cage being represented as a hero is the something else to believe that so many black kids need to see. They need to see that we are capable of being heroes, doctors, lawyers, educators, politicians, and as people period. This country has had, and continues to have, a long history of devaluing, mistreating. and opposing women. I do believe progress is being made, but I also believe we are far from solving the problem. Women are not treated as equal to men, giving women the same job as a man, but not paying them as much, is not solving the problem and issues they are facing in this country. A partial solution shouldn't be considered a total solution when there is so much more that needs to be done. Often, we ask ourselves where are the Malcolms and Martins in today's time. honestly, truly believe they are women, black women, strong, independent, fearless, change inducing, loving, powerful women.
ReplyDeleteThe information covered in unit four for me wasn’t anything new because I was already taught majority of the information throughout my years in school. Although, the information gave me better understanding on my own race and what's really going on with our jail systems behind the scene and what we have overcame. We covered a lot of information in so little time we discovered the founders of BLM are three African American queer women and are faced with risky situations on a daily basis, one being that their part of the LGBT community, two their African American women at that. Another lesson I learned was that our system used to help the “felons” are made impossible for them when they are released I feel like they do that so they can end up back in jail. I feel like others should be educated on what’s really going on in our society, actually the world we live in the more we know the more progress will be shown in the future.
ReplyDeleteI also feel as though our justice system is made to fail these so called "felons" rather than help them succeed. When someone is released from prison, they are given little to no support and have to struggle which puts some of them right back in the same place they started. When we were asked the question, should jails be disbanded all together however, this is when we have to sit and think about those few people who are truly no good for society. Our justice system needs to be reviewed and evaluated.
DeleteThis Unit was full of so much information and it was all very enlightening. I feel that I have been well aware of the issues, the trials, and accomplishments in our lives as African Americans but I feel that now I talk about it more. I'm always talking about it with family, friends, on social media; I think thats how this class has changed me the most. I feel that the invisble women are progression just by speaking out, the articles, the films, this is all great progression. Ex, Ava Duvernay, the creators of the BLM Movement are all powerful women who are changing the world and making progression in getting our voices, our stories heard. For this unit in particular Oscar Grant resonated with me the most because I did not hear about his shooting, and it was the first caught on video since Rodney King and the movie was amazing. What happened to him is a serious issue that needs to be resolves and justice is never really actually served and that's a problem. the fact that it happened to him; this innocent, young black man who was our age is crazy, but our reality. I will not stop talking about Black Issues, our issues. This has been my favorite class this semester! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you Samaryra , this by far was one of my favorite classes this semester. The open dialogue that took place on a weekly basics amongst my peers was truly needed. We as a class must personally thank Dr. Jackson,because she equipped us with the skills we needed to articulate our stances on important issues going on in the world today. In addition, she also taught us how to back our claims with facts.
DeleteI agree also! Like I said in my post, the more we talk about this issue the more change we will see.
DeleteI agree this is one of my favorite classes at A&T. I feel like this class was an eye opener to many of us and we should definitely inspire and encourage others to try to gain the same information we were taught.
DeleteThis unit was a very good way to end this semester. Everything came full circle and it all tied together. While majority of the information in this unit I was familiar with, the one thing I did not know about was that “Black Lives Matter” was more than a hashtag and it started by queer black women. I first learned about Black Lives Matter through Twitter. It started because three women were fed up with the increase in the amount of innocent African Americans that were losing their lives. Learning that black queer woman began this organization also resonated with me because in today’s society it is already tough to be a black woman, but to be a black woman that is queer can truly be challenging. (https://www.hrc.org/resources/being-african-american-lgbtq-an-introduction) Here is a link to an article about the difficulties of being a black queer woman. I read this and was shocked to learn all the obstacles they face. Learning that these women started an organization that is so meaningful to myself as well as other people of color is amazing. This unit in my opinion helped show that black people are brilliant, capable of anything and fearless. Seeing Luke Cage, a black superhero that looks like your average black man, was amazing. It is sad that we can count any black superhero on one hand, while there are several white superheroes that get all the praise. Seeing the Netflix series about Luke Cage was refreshing because we are usually portrayed as criminals, animals, and dangerous people. Luke Cage showed a black man whose main goal was to serve and protect. This unit hasn’t changed me per say, but it has truly enlightened me. I learned that I need to stay abreast of everything that is going on around me. While having our class discussion it was amazing to hear about all of the black people who are directors, actors, and activist. I do see some progression for these “invisible wo(Men)” but there is definitely room for improvement. America was founded on the beliefs that women are inferior to men, so it is challenging to get some people out of this mindset. It is time to realize that women and men should be treated the same because your gender does not define what you are capable of. This class has really been interesting, and very thought provoking. I am anxious for the day that people of color are treated the same as white people. Though it doesn’t seem like that day is near, I believe God has a plan. Black lives have forever, and will always matter!
ReplyDeleteWhat intrigued me the most was the documentary on the college students who started an organization to liberate the Black students and bring awareness to the discrimination Blacks faced on the college campus. Under the circumstances that the students faced, I believe that it was urgent for the students to organize a union against the racist white students/faculty. Those students who were targeted or supported the organization “Conscious Concern 1950” made a loud statement on campus by expressing their right to attend school without being racially harassed. The video has made me more aware of racism even in places that are supposed to be safe for students to grow and learn.
ReplyDeleteThe link below shows that racial discrimination amongst black and white students starts at a young age and transpires over into adulthood, which creates a racial divide like the one shown in the documentary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OKgUdQF-Fg
Overtime I do believe that one day the majority of black and whites will be be able to coexist more than ever. We all deserve e a fair chance here on this Earth and with life’s problems already being a burden, racism should cease.
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DeleteHi Jazzmin! That particular story resonated with me as well. Although I believe Tim wolfe was used as a scape Goat in this situation. There are many other people besides wolf and the chancellor who should have had to answer to the disjustice that these African Americans students had to face on that campus. I do believe however, players for the NFL should take a page from these students books and unite as a unit like Mizzou football players did in order to make their voices heard in an effective way.
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ReplyDeleteThis unit was honestly a huge eye opener. I remember my freshman year, my English professor Ms. Horne asked the class, “who has it worst in American, black women or black men ?” I remember being one of the only people to say black women, and the whole class jumped down my neck. Fast forwarding to today, it is now my senior year and last semester of college. And after taking your class Dr. Jackson, I have been afforded the knowledge to articulate the reasons I made that response then. The invisible black wo(men) endures prejudice/ stereotypes just as Black men( Though African Americans and Hispanics women and men make up approximately 32% of the US population, they comprised 56% of all incarcerated people in 2015.) However, many people including black men and women alike are quick to scream NO black men have it worst. Well I challenge you all to look at the true facts around this argument today. In the aftermath of slavery and the resulting social, economic, and political effects, Black women have become the victims of negative stereotyping in mainstream American culture. Such stereotypes include the myth of the angry Black woman that characterizes these women as aggressive, ill tempered, illogical, overbearing, hostile, and ignorant without provocation. Looking at these facts from a mental health standpoint, these myths, and the denial of the black women’s plight , are likely to even influence the efficacy of mental health treatment. When Black women in a mental health context should be influenced by the cultural norms and sociopolitical dynamics affecting them today. Nevertheless, the progression black women have made regardless of these obstacles have been outstanding. I would accredit this to education and the black women’s resilience. Black women are now the most educated group in the United States , and also the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs. However, even still the they have a long way to go for pay equality. And as of 2013, black women earned just 64 cents to the white man's dollar, while white women earned 78 cents, black men 75 cents, Hispanic men 67 cents and Hispanic women 54 cents. In addition, while black women may be the most highly educated, a recent study found that black women make up just 8 percent of private sector jobs and less than 2 percent of leadership roles. An example of this we learned in class, is the 3 queer black women who started the organization black lives matter. These women were were pushed to the side and overshadowed by their straight black male counterparts who joined the movement.
I disagree with some parts of what you are saying not by comparison but by what you said being the reason for who has it worst. I do believe in some ways black men do have it a lot worse than black women and in some ways black women have it a lot worse than black men. However I also believe that the ways in which black men have it worse are a lot more volatile compared to black women. I do believe that Black Women endure many stereotypes including the ones that you mention but I feel that you are disregarding the stereotypes that Black Men face also. In some ways the same stereotypes that you mentioned are stereotypes that black men face. “Aggressive, ill tempered, illogical, overbearing, hostile, and ignorant without provocation” are the stereotypes that you used and I can argue that 4 of the 6 stereotypes that you mentioned are stereotypes that black men face and used to dehumanize the black man. Although those are not all that we both face, I don’t think that it is something that people can make a clear decision as to who has it worse.
DeleteAnd I also disagree with your last statement about the straight black male counterparts overshadowing the 3 queer women who started the movement. If anything the movement has made it clear that black women, trans, and/or queer folks should be in the front of the movement based upon their website and based upon the video that we watched. There are only 2 males that most would even consider leaders of the movement and that is DeRay Mckesson (who is a gay man) and Shaun King who’s credibly has been questioned on numerous occasions. So I don’t think that straight men are being put at the front of the movement to discredit the 3 women who founded the movement. If anything the people who steal their “Lives Matter” and don’t properly represent it and its origins are the people who are really disrespecting and taking credit for their work.
This unit as really opened my eyes on a lot things dealing with being an African American. As a black young adult, I think it was important that we discussed a lot of the things we did in this unit and the throughout the whole semester. One thing that really stuck with me is discussing the term "felon." That and the Khalif Browder story is what really settled with me. How can someone so young be considered a felon. How can the system ruin someones life so early over something so small. After learning about the BLM campaign, that really put me on to something. I never knew that those women were queer. Being 3 black queer women, they pushed aside all the negative talk and continued to build a brand that could uplift all black people in a time were we needed motivation the most. This unit was my favorite and I really enjoyed it. I think it has made me think bigger when it comes to the issues we deal with. It makes me think pass just the black and white. This unit was very enlightening.
ReplyDeleteThis unit was enlightening to me although some of the information that we discussed were things that I had already been exposed to. The thing that stuck out to me the most about this unit was the conversation on the black superhero and what all it can represent. I never looked at the Luke Cage character and broke it down from layer to layer to get an understanding of how it contradicts all “social norms”. I also think that based off of what we went over in class that the Black Panther film will be absolutely groundbreaking and will be a historic movie not only for black folks but for the entire superhero genre. I think that this film will first humanize the idea of African Tribes. Many folks (including American black folks) still believe the stereotype that Africans tribes are uncivilized and animalistic. And finally, my thoughts on the BLM Organization has definitely changed a lot over the last 2-3 years of their existence. I agree that the concept of the movement is very great and is very much so needed but I also believe that something about the movement I just haven’t sat right with me. One thing is just the lack of strategy that I feel BLM has sometimes shown. It was a movement founded on emotion which isn’t unusual but it seems as though at times BLM takes an emotional approach to the way they handle injustices. I think in time those sorts of things will change and when it does I think that is when BLM will be at its strongest. Another thing that I have noticed about BLM is that they have a tendency to avoid saying anything about the Men (more specifically heterosexual-cisgendered) who are a part of the movement and the role that they have played in the role. If you go on the website there is literally no real mention of a man’s role and importance in the movement and even in the interview that we watched with the 3 founding women it just seemed as though there was a clear avoidance of the mention of men. Whether it’s with the Black Panthers or The Nation of Islam I do believe that it is problematic to brush off the opposite genders and allow them to be lost within the movement because it doesn’t show balance when it comes to who the movement identifies with and also it doesn’t show balance in the role of everyone within the movement. Other than those issues I do believe that BLM is a vital part of the next generation of black liberation. Their use of the internet and social media to get their message across has been profound and I do believe that this movement will be some that will last and will sustain great success as their movement progresses and that will come with time.
ReplyDeleteI agree this unit has discussed some things were already exposed to on the day to day bases. The conversation on black super heroes stuck out to me as well. I agree that Black Panther will be groundbreaking and will be a historic that will most likely impact our society. I do believe BLM oraganizations will get stronger over time.
DeleteUnit 4 has definitely been an eye opening unit for me and also one to reflect on. Growing up I really wasn’t into superheroes or even interested if I could recall. As I got older I got into Spider-man, Iron Man, Thor, and couple of others. This made me start thinking though where and are there any Black superheroes. The fact that the producer for the upcoming Black Panther movie is a Black man that made the great films “Creed” and “Fruitvale Station” makes me feel more obligated to continue to support such a great cause for our people. In watching Fruitvale Station, it continued to unpack the problems that Black people continue to have today when it comes to police Brutality. This is a topic that has started and seems to have no end in sight. With that being said, it is not all police officers that commit these crimes though. Watching Luke Cage, another Black superhero, showed us this. Misty was shown in the light that even though he was a convicted Black felon that just so happened to be superhero, she went out of her way even putting her job at risk to show that the Black man was innocent. Even the officer from the episode that let him go shows that police are still human and believe in what and who they want when it comes to people of color. This resonated with me most because this isn’t a light that you see very often, but it was one that I was happy was portrayed this way.
ReplyDeleteAlso from this unit, I especially was moved that the women that started the BLM movement were queer women. The fact that they are in the forefront of this movement shows how much times have changed from that when the ones that were of LGBTQ community back when they were marching with the Black Panthers and Black Liberation leaders, withheld their sexual orientations. It even goes to show that even though the interests in people are not of the societal norm, that the fight for justice and equality has no race, gender, or sexual orientation and people can come together to show this. Studying Ava DuVernay and the women of BLM shows that Black women are on the come up and are continuing to progress through the times and I personally am here for all of it! The fact that Netflix gave DuVernay the opportunity to choose anything she wanted and she chose to show the harsh truth of the prison system shows that she is taking her talents and using them for the good and knowledge for OUR people and this is needed. I look forward to her film A Wrinkle in Time from her words of it being a Black girl that is going to save the world. Below is an article about her words for the upcoming movie.
http://www.vulture.com/2017/10/ava-duvernay-is-not-sure-if-youll-like-a-wrinkle-in-time.html
Unit four has opened my eyes in a new founded way. Before this unit, I had already watched the Luke Cage series and was as eagerly excited to see the black panther movie. I am a new fan to these superhero series and I see excitement in the story plots. I was truly resonated with how we broke down each character and related them to real world prospectives. It made me relook at the series and discover things I simply overlooked the first time. When we were asked to watch Fruitvale Station, I was very skeptical because I never wanted to see that movie or any movie like that. I grew up in a town where stuff like that happens all too regular. I have grown numb to all the violence taking place in the world today and I just did not want to watch a physical representation of how corrupt our justice system is. While watching it , however I was intrigued by how Oscar Grant was represented. Ryan Coogler did an excellent job showing oscars human side, something that the media always fails to show when dealing with crimes such as these. I also was not aware the BLM was created by Black women. That was by far the biggest shock of this unit but not because I didnt think black women were capable of such greatness, but because it took me this long to realize it. Every time I see BLM, it is always a man taking the lead. To now know that three woman are the cause of such an historic movement is truly wonderful. One thing I have learned from this unit as well as the whole class is that everything isn't always as it appears. Never take face value, sometimes you have to dig deeper and see something thats not laid out in front of you.
ReplyDeleteUnit Four did not provide any new information to me. My mentor and football coach have taught me a lot about what is going on in today’s society. The data did give me better comprehension of white supremacy. Specifically, how society treat African Americans and felons post incarceration. The information presented how difficult it is for felons to get a job. The organizers of Black Lives Matter are three African American eccentric ladies. Their vision and goal was to help the world where Black lives are no longer systematically targeted for demise. Their mission includes affirming our humanity, contributions to society, and resilience in the face of deadly oppression. The call for Black Lives Matter is a rallying cry for ALL Black lives striving for liberation.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, I learned about the framework and structure used to help “criminals”. This process makes them incomprehensible when they are discharged. I feel that this is done to increase their chances of ending up back in the system. In my opinion, they want to keeps blacks in jail. The percentage rate for African Americans that are incarcerated is higher than other races. Therefore, they want us to stay focused and brain wash our lifestyles. Today the assaults on Black life come in the form of police violence and the resurgence of a discourse of hate. I feel like others should be taught on what is going on in the public. If we were educated more on the world that we live in, or chances of advancement increase. We would have a clear understanding and life wouldn’t be a struggle.
When we began the unit, I was unaware that Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, 3 African American Women organized the BLM. This movement empowers women and shows all women they can be leaders too. BLM movement reminded me of the start of the Civil rights movement. Social media, News, TV, movies, have revealed discriminatory acts towards the African American communities. Learning about African American Super Heroes resonated with me. We not only watched some African American heroes in class but we researched backgrounds of these Super Heroes. I’m a fan of many Super Hero movies, which doesn’t have a lot of African American Heroes “Who lives through the entire movie”. The belief in a Black super Hero symbolized hope, belief, and unity and I believe the world needed to see. Luke Cage defied many tropes as not only an African American but a felon as well. Luke Cage and Ava DuVernay shows being a felon is not the end and that people shouldn’t be categorized as such. I believe more people should be educated about felons and figure out ways to stop the “inevitable loop” society predicted on them.
ReplyDeleteAt first glance I did not feel like unit 4 would have anything to offer me as far as new perspectives on any of the topics. I was already able to see the humanity in felons being that there are a few in my family. Growing up with three older brothers I was introduced to a lot of black superheroes and had already seen the Luke Cage series. Being black, woman, and queer I made it my business took seek out leaders who I could see myself in, so I was aware of the three women who started the BLM movement. As we moved further into the unit I learned how unaware I was when it came to the depth of these topics. The first wake up call came with acknowledging the humanity of felons. Of course, I knew felons were people with feelings. My brother is a felon, but he’s also a fulltime father, a veteran, a brother, a son, an uncle, a husband, and a human. I always felt like he paid his debt to society and what happened in prison stayed in prison. This unit taught me that wasn’t the case. I was totally unaware of the machine behind the dehumanization of felons and this machine’s gears start moving well before the person is convicted and keep going well after they’ve served their term. It made me empathize with them more and it made me more understanding when it came to individuals like my uncle who just can’t seem to stay out that box. I didn’t think there was any progression for these invisible wo(men) until we began to analyze the Luke Cage series. The series not only put a spotlight on the humanity of felons, it put a spotlight on the humanity of wrongfully convicted felons. It was an example for those who may be in Carl Lucas’ shoes and aren’t aware of the “Luke Cage” within them. The series says without saying that there is a chance for greatness after prison. As far as the three black queer women who started the BLM movement, that topic was just a reminder of my ability to create something bigger than myself. Malcolm X said the most disrespected, unprotected, and neglected person in America is the black woman, while I believe that to be true I feel that more specifically it is the queer black woman. Within all the adversity that comes with being black, woman, and queer these 3 women created a movement that has brought attention to so many issues and in some situations even brought change. Saying all of this to say, I definitely see progression in all of these areas. The steps taken toward change have been baby steps but baby steps are still steps…
ReplyDeleteThis unit has been one of my favorite units thus far, simply because of the way we were able to see powerful images on screen. I loved the readings throughout the units, but seeing these stories and hearing the voices of those affected in each scenario really made a difference. I had always been skeptical of watching Fruitvale Station because I knew I was going to cry if I watched it, but I am so glad I had to because it was an eye-opening experience. Watching that story, along with the Khalief Browder story, the documentary about the football team and the Ted Talks makes me realize that closing myself off to these situations does not spare my feelings, but instead makes me ignorant to these situations. So while I knew about the majority of these situations, I feel I have expanded my thinking and the way I discuss these situations. I think there are so many invisible black (wo)man in society that are driving forces behind some of the biggest things in history that the public is not aware of, e.g. the women who started the #blacklivesmatter movement. I think progression is upon us, especially in this age of social media where things can be shared at the push of a button. After reading about the women behind the blm movement I wondered how many others there were that we did not know about. I found a blog post about black women who have behind the scenes in the black power movement and I thought it was a very interesting read which I shared with my friends. (http://www.bu.edu/research/articles/black-female-activists-ashley-farmer/) I loved this class and I feel like I will be more aware of how I can share issues of my community in the future.
ReplyDeletehttp://feministing.com/2016/02/10/reproductive-justice-blm-movements-partner-to-fight-for-black-womens-lives/
(I really love the image portrayed in the header of this article and thought it would be a nice ending picture)
This unit was very enlightening to me in more ways than one. Originally, I was familiar with some of the things discussed in this unit. To that same fact I was oblivious with some topics discussed in this unit as well. A lot of things in this unit resonated with me like the value of the black women, the black superhero, the dynamic of the black family and many more.
ReplyDeleteI believe the value of the black women have always been deemed as lesser. In history, black women were not really recognized for their contribution in the movements that help liberate black people. Even then the token “black women” had to come from a noble background to be used in the movement. In the aftermath of slavery and the resulting social, economic, and political effects, Black women have become the victims of negative stereotyping in mainstream media in the American culture. Such stereotypes include the myth of the angry Black woman or a resting bitch face that characterizes these women as aggressive, ill tempered, irrational, attitude, and hostile. The invisible woman continued to work alongside men to fight for equality for all. I was moved that the women that started the BLM movement were three queer women. Though people tried to steer the focus of the movement to fit their own vantage points, these women were focused on one common goal. It even shows that people with different interest can come together and fight for justice and equality. The progress black women have made regardless of these obstacles are worth a standing ovation. The black women’s resilience. Also, I loved the study of the black superhero being able to analyze the parallels of the black family in Queen Sugar. The black masculinity valued in the show Luke Cage even personified the values of the black male. Portraying him as a felon also touched on the value of a smooth transition from prison to world. The show Queen Sugar also showed me the value in redefinition masculinity. Society and media portrayal has made it inappropriate for black men to feel, cry, or have emotions. Black men are supposed to be the “provider.” I do have issues with the way society has coddled the image of masculinity which is why I believe it should be redefined. This link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG7Fb7E5nOk is a video regarding the fragile makeup of black masculinity. Movies like Fruitvale Station and the Khalief Browder only further my belief of the flaws in society we currently abide in.
I have enjoyed this course and I cannot thank you enough for the amount of knowledge you poured into me and time you invested in me this semester.
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ReplyDeleteWhat resonates with me most was their strong desire to be heard. They would not take no for an answer. I like the way they fought to illustrate how there needs to be justice for killings of innocent black men. This class overall has taught me to embrace the culture, appreciate the freedoms my ancestors fought for, and stay woke. It has enlightened me to stay focused on what is going on in the black community as well. I do feel like those three will progress more and I hope they get more recognition for what they have done. The movement is still moving forward. This class really pushed me to focus more on the movement even outside the class as well. I am excited for the black panther movie also. Finally we have a black super hero. This class makes me want to do everything that I can in my power to help the movement and the culture. At the beginning of the semester I did not expect to absorb this much vital information. This class is one that really makes me really appreciate what I learned and one I will go back to remember in my college days.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don’t think it has changed me that much because I have always had an open mind when it came to topics such as these. I’d say one thing that I really liked about this unit was how we seen Luke Cage as a hero although he was indeed a felon. I feel like a lot of actual black men in today’s society can relate to this character. I also was not aware that three women created the BLM movement. So all these things were somewhat new to me but i definitely enjoyed learning new things about our black culture that isn’t televised and made known to us.
ReplyDeleteThroughout this course I learned a great deal that I did not know about the rules ,values & stereotypes of the black community within Hollywood. From discussing the red record,Birth of nation & Within our Gates to analyzing Emmet Till and Rodney King we’ve covered events and media that impacted the nation as a whole and our community to its core. During this class we have also discussed this idea of a white savior and hero especially in films and tv shows. In other units we have seen that throughout the history of race relations between whites and black in America, many different leaders and activists have used many tactics to fight for equality & justice. This particular unit what’s impacted me most has been our discussion of the corruption and flaws within our justice systems. After considering Ava Duvernays 13th along with reading about Kalief Browder it makes it hard to continue to have faith in the process. The mass incarceration of African Americans within this country has created epidemic numbers of black males behind bars leaving systemic problems from within and among our community. Watching the documentary did change me because it put into perspective how if you grow up in certain places especially at certain times in our nations history the kind of abuses you could be subject to. As regards to the black women discussed this unit, the strength of our community resonates from them. Whether It be leaders within media culture or women stepping up to start the back lives matter movement , without women at the forefront most of our progress in today’s society would be slow. I do see a progression from these women because now their impact is getting so big not just on our community but the nations as whole that you can’t continue to ignore them or their contribution anymore. You can ignore a black director while he or she make short films but when a Disney block buster comes across your docket that your kids wanna see, it’s impossible to ignore anymore.
ReplyDeleteThis Unit, and entire class has been a major eye-opener for me. Being black, sometimes can make you feel like that’s just enough. I never was taught to act, dress, or really think as so. Then also being a black female, I would’ve never thought so so so many women were not only involved, but leading these huge movements. Learning this through the class gave me an extra push in life. It just furthers the fact that women can do almost ANYTHING a male can do. Men may always be in the forefront, but without the women, what would their organizations be? Not as powerful as they would’ve hoped. The “Black Lives Matter” movement is one of the most popular movements of today. Being as “Pro-Black” as I thought I was, I should’ve known it was three women. Learning that, it almost made me feel bad to not have known. It shocks me and encourages me to know it was three women that began such a powerful, involved, popular movement! Them also being queer and putting themselves out there is another astonishing sight, but to be honest, it doesn’t even make a difference to me.
ReplyDeleteThe word felon just bothers me. This unit has shown me how easy it is for that word to be thrown around. Felon’s, BLACK felon’s, get mistaken for animals and not humans. I absolutely hate the prison system because that’s where they are treated like animals the most. I’ve learned the prison system has always been an animal in disguise all by its self. The system is the bad guy that is thought to be nice… our savior in a sense when bad things come our way. We’re always told to call 911(the police) when we’re in trouble and close to the bad things…But who do you call when they’re the ones you’re trying to get away from? I pray all the time that God relieves us of the twisted systems used on us, our family and loved ones which encounters it every day. That’s why we get to the black superheroes! Having the Luke Cage series brought to my attention, I see felons and superheroes in an entire new light. It IS possible for people to grow out of their wrongs and also do greater things!
First I want to start off by saying thank you for an amazing semester Dr.Jackson I really enjoyed your class. This unit is one my favorites because the things we talked about gave me hope for the future . I say hope because talking about movies by Ryan Coogler like fruitville station, the black panther and wrapping up with the leaders of black lives matter movement shows me that black people of my generation are showing " our truth" to the world and letting no one stop them. I have no doubt in my mind that these leaders will keep thriving in these spaces and the world will have no choose but to listen. The other topic and the thing that I think that resonates with me the most from this class is how black women are really the back bone of the movement. throught this semester we have talked about women in the civil rights movement , black panther party and black lives matter movement and how often times they are acknowledge for their contributions to the movement. That one thing alone has made me realize what my power is as a black woman and that is what I remember most from this class.
ReplyDelete- China Hopkins
This last unit was an enlightened surprise to me compared to the other 3 units that were harsh bit informative! Unit four offered somewhat of a solution as to what we need to do moving forward when it comes to how black people are viewed in society and how we can be in control of our own image and how. With the 1st Unit we learned of the OG version of Birth of a Nation and how all of the negative stereotypes about blacks were created and I like the fact that this ending unit shows where we are today and how far we've come to be in control of our own image.With the upcoming Black Panther film and the Netflix show Luke Cage, the unaware Black community And the non black community get a chance to see Black people in a different light. Not as traditionally unrealistic superheroes or gangsta thugs but just as regular people who enjoy reading, hiphop & everyday activities. If anything, this unit gave me hope in progression, especially in the fact that The Black Lives Matter movement was created by 3 black, queer females.As Malcolm X said himself, the black woman is the most unprotected human in America & for the 3 movement pioneers to be women, black, and queer, shows that no matter the specifications black people are powerful and have the influence to change & conversation starters.
ReplyDeleteThis was my absolute favorite class this semester. It made me think beyond the surface in order to understand the bigger message. When I watch movies and TV Shows I never thought about why the producer set up scenes in a certain way or why character development is so important. Learning about directors, producers, and writers such as Ava DuVernay and Ryan Coogler made me look beyond film. It made me understand the importance of scenery and how you capture a character in order to give them their own identity. Another topic that resonated with me the most was "The New Jim Crow" book we had discussions about in class. I knew the prison system was horrendous but I never knew to the extent that we learned about. It makes me think about my family members who are labeled as felons, and the fact that they are constantly reminded of it when they fill out job applications because have to "check the box". That automatically causes their way to receive income to be put in the backseat when they are only trying to do better with their lives. This class has changed me and challenged myself to look deeper into what I read and watch, because there is always more to than just the surface. This unit particularly has enlightened me about how many black women are involved in making a name for black people that I had no idea about. I never knew that the #BlackLivesMatter movement was brought together by three black queer women. On social media men are always at the forefront of this movement and its rare that I see women heavily recognized as often as men are. It also makes me question what else are women behind that they are not given their credit to. I do see progression in the future because the more we know, the more we can share and educate others. Thank you Dr. Jackson for being an impeccable educator and giving us the knowledge that we need!
ReplyDeleteI personally was not surprised or changed by the information and films discussed in this unit. Mainly because I was aware of it and have seen the works of what we discussed. However, with that being said, things from Luke Cage and BLM organizations do continue to resonate in me. I’ve always known the justice system and police treat minorities however they please. I realized this at three years old when my uncle was killed due to police brutality. I will continue to fight against unjust scenarios and seek equality in a country that seems to refuse at every turn to give it to us. However, people seem to forget to reach such a society we must consider the perspectives of all people. Even those perspectives from people that are completely different even if we can’t fully understand their experiences. This is one reason I am happy for and hope to continue to see the progression of the Queer women of the BLM organization. These women have shown people we need to focus on more than just skin color when it comes to injustice and importance of life.
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