In the excerpted article published by 5th July 1993, the author, Barbara Smith, provides her perspective on the origin and progression of the black queer community. It is important to note that the author identifies as black and is proud of her African American heritage. Furthermore, she is proud of being a woman with the awareness of the suffering women have undergone at the hands of the arrogant patriarchy. Lastly, I observed that she is more concerned about her queer identity.
Therefore, from a critical race perspective, the author is the ultimate victim because she is black, female, and a lesbian. She resents that the White, male, and heterosexual members of the society have neglected their counterparts with differing identities. I would understand her resentment for the homophobes, misogynists, and white supremacists because they have perpetually been oppressing the women, members of the LGBTQIA community, and the Black people, respectively.
I, however, do not understand her resentment for capitalism. Why does she perceive the capitalists as villains? Given that she adopted the socialist ideology, Barbara Smith perceives capitalism as an oppressive social system. This is because the system provides tools to the already privileged that are later used in the oppression of vulnerable community members. Therefore, capitalism makes the already oppressed like the black, queer, and female worse off. For example, the capitalistic system is responsible for the abduction of some African to work as slaves in America.
Therefore capitalists are synonymous with oppressors, according to her school of thought. She is championing the wellbeing and equality of the black queer members of society, which does not translate to the oppression of the privileged groups. The black queer movement is also seeking to ensure that the queer members of the society are autonomous members without relying on government handouts.
Reference
Smith, B. (1993). Where’s the Revolution?. The Nation, 5, 12-16.
