Black History Month: Reflecting on the gay black feminist movement

[UnrepentantLiberal]

By Jason Lydon
The Rainbow Times
Jan. 31, 2012

February is Black History Month, a reminder to the dominant culture to lift up the stories and lives of black people. As LGBTQ folks, regardless of whether we experience oppression by racism or if we gain white privilege, February offers a fantastic opportunity to ignite or reignite our flaming selves to know our history and have our history inform the work of our present. Some say that knowledge itself is power, and it certainly can make us feel powerful, but I hope that knowledge can lead us all to action that can really help us shift the borders of power away from those who violently clench onto it.

First, let me share a little history from here in Boston. Have you ever heard of the Combahee River Collective? They were a black lesbian feminist organization that started in 1974. Well before the esteemed Kimberlé Crenshaw popularized the organizing model and theory of intersectionality, the women of the Combahee River Collective were expanding the borders of queer, black and feminist movements with ideas of simultaneity; a movement building tool that recognized the interlocking experience of oppression for many, including black lesbian feminists. The Combahee River Collective released a statement of their politics in 1977; it has now become standard reading in women’s studies and critical race-theory classes, though I must say I prefer reading it out loud with friends and lovers. The statement can easily be found online, their explicitly detailed writing is a call to both black and white feminists, straight and queer people, and to people of all genders. It closes with a clear declaration, “As black feminists and lesbians, we know that we have a very definite revolutionary task to perform and we are ready for the lifetime of work and struggle before us.” This is black history. If you don’t know it, this is a great time to start learning some of it.

As we take time to learn some of the history of our movements, we are also given great opportunities to critically engage today. Attention is being given to the recently released film, “Pariah.” Blogs, weekly newspapers, and even the mainstream press are all talking about this film that tells the coming-out story and personal annunciation of a gender-nonconforming black young person. Yet the film is more than a simple coming-out flick. In a guest contribution to racialicious.com, Spectra writes, “This is what sets ‘Pariah’apart from (white) singular-narrative LGBT films; it debunks the myth that life begins and ends between the point of self-acceptance, and a wedding.” I was recently speaking with a white gay film critic who said the film was boring, formulaic, and done before a million times. He noted, “the only difference is that it focuses on a genderqueer black kid.”

I will agree with this white critic on one thing: the film did seem to be quite formulaic to me. However, it is exactly this reality that proves one of the key points of this film: queer culture is not only white culture. Because white supremacy and white dominance are so prevalent in mass movie production, this story has not been told on the big screen before. Yes, those of us who are white have seen our coming-out story portrayed over and over again, to the point that while such movies may have entertaining moments, I simply don’t think I can watch another one. This is not the reality for many people in our community. “Pariah” shows that queerness expands beyond the limits of “The L Word” or “Kissing Jessica Stein.” History is being made all the time; go see “Pariah”and participate.Also, while movie going is one of my favorite things to do, there is more action to be taken during Black History Month. Do you know the black queer organizations around you? If you are not already, familiarize yourself with the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition, Queer Women of Color and Friends, the Multicultural AIDS Coalition, or any other black queer community organizations.

More: http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/2012/01/31/black-history-month-reflecting-on-the-gay-black-feminist-movement/

[Catherina]

1. I really want to see this!

The movie looks brilliant and I really want to see it. Does anyone know if it's available online for people who are overseas?

It's high time and this looks brilliant.

"Sometimes I wish I was not alive," Precious says. "But I don't know how to die. Ain' no plug to pull out. 'N no matter how bad I feel my heart don't stop beating and my eyes open in the morning."

http://hhsdrama.com/documents/StudyGuidePush.pdf

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For all the talk of "liberal Hollywood," diversity is not among the movie industry's strengths.

Dee Rees, the director of "Pariah," a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story that focuses on a black lesbian's experiences coming out in New York City, knows the story too well. In an interview with Colorlines, the writer-director said those very words ("black," "lesbian," "coming of age&quot were often enough to immediately stop film studios and backers from participating.

"We'd go to pitch meetings and the moment we said 'black, lesbian, coming of age,' they would turn around, validate our parking and hand us a bottle of water," she confessed in the interview.

Rees resorted to private benefactors to finance the film, which she said she believed would reach a significant audience. She appears to have been correct -- the film is sitting at a comfortable 95 percent rating on the review-aggregating website Rotten Tomatoes.

...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/06/dee-rees-pariah-hollywood-race-problem-black-actors_n_1190478.html

[Starry Messenger]

2. Thank you for posting the trailer too.

"Pariah" looks stellar. I just checked to see if the film is playing near me, but it is only showing in SF. I'll try to carch seeing the movie before it leaves the theater. I hope you can find it online Catherina.

I'm glad more people are also speaking out to the media about how shamelessly racist the Hollywood system is.

It's a pleasure to see you posting Catherina.

[Catherina]

3. Hollywood needs a major overhaul

The whole entertainment industry does. There are so many battles to fight that when I think about it, I'm dumbstruck.

If you catch it, will you post a detailed follow-up? I have a feeling it's going to be a while before it's available online and it's never going to show in my neck of the woods.

When I was looking for the trailer I saw a post by someone who was so excited to see it in Kansas but, after an uproar, the movie theater pulled Pariah.

Is the film that threatening to people who want to keep us servile?

Edit: Thank you I'm working with a women's group here, trying to empower women, but it's so different than any work I did in the states because these women have no safety nets and the poverty and exploitation are appalling.

I'd like to have a conversation with you (and anyone else who can help) on pointers and good reading material on economic exploitation of Third World women that women in the industrialized world profit from too. Where is the international sisterhood that says NO to the economic, mental and physical exploitation of all women? I need to find it.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. I'll say

Look at The Help - one big stereotype of black women - one right after the other. That's the only way they show us - is in stereotype. And I write that as a hetero black woman.

So it's good to see a different 'formula' shatter their (Hollywood's Producers/Movers/Shakers) preconceived notions of what sells.

[Catherina]

6. I had a feeling they were heading there with The Help

I'm sorry to hear they did. I know not to rent it now.

Thanks for saving me some money and aggravation.

[JustAnotherGen]

7. Well the book did too

Unfortunately. Upset I can't get those hours back in my life.

[Starry Messenger]

8. I was going to try to see the movie tomorrow

but my mother got in a fight with her garage door and the garage door won. We spent yesterday afternoon in ER and I stayed at her house while she rested on the couch downstairs. I'm going to stick close to her for a few days to make sure she is eating and resting. We're calling it "Occupy the Couch".

Hopefully the movie will be in theaters another week and my mother stays out of fights with her house, lol.

[gkhouston]

4. I hadn't heard about this film.

Thanks; I'll have to look for it.