Imagine you are participating in a conversation with the Combahee River Collective and, in a consciousness-raising group, you read the following article: Recy Taylor: A Symbol of Jim Crow's Forgotten Horror.
Using the Combahee River Collective Statement and what you have learned in the past weeks, discuss a black feminist perspective to this issue (In 2-3 paragraphs). How would the Collective approach the issue, especially with regard to privilege, interlocking oppressions, “the personal is political”, and a critique of the limitations of dominant feminist and anti-racist approaches to hierarchies of inequality. What new perspectives might they offer? Be creative…imagine you are sitting at the table with them!
Rape is a tragic, personal crime when it is happening to anyone-male or female, black or white. When it is during the Civil Rights Era and it is a gang rape on a black woman, the issue becomes a hate crime and and act of racism. Black women, especially during the time of Recy Taylor’s rape, were far too accustomed to being used and abused by anyone and everyone. This rape, however, was different, particularly because it went without punishment and is still kept a secret today. The Combahee River Collective’s response to the issue of the rape would be one of support, love, and understanding.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the Combahee River Collective would first identify the privilege given to the white men who raped Taylor. They did it because they are white, and they got away with it because they are white. They targeted her because of her two disadvantages: her race and her sex. She is already constantly oppressed on both grounds, but the rape took it to a different level. Taylor has no reason to be ashamed of the rape because it was simply a crime committed as a supremacy statement. White men do not have that same privilege and supremacy that they had during that time; black and white women alike have fought for the rights and justice of women just like Recy Taylor.
Last, I believe the Combahee River Collective would discuss the lack of publicity that Taylor’s rape received. It was a political move brought about by the Alabama county’s leaders. The rape that was unbelievable personal and painful to Taylor was politicized and brushed under the rug by white men in charge. The lack of exposure, especially now, effects Taylor greatly. Her personal pain that she has been carrying around for her entire life is simply lost in time, and the River Collective would support her through her tears and discuss other black women’s rapes that HAVE been justified and punished accordingly.
The Combahee River Collective's black feminist statement offers support to black women because they are able to know that they are not alone, and all black women will stand with them in their fight against racial oppression as well as sexual oppression. Recy Taylor would leave the table of these women with a sense of positivity, encouragement, and justice because times ARE changing and they HAVE changed.
The article about the black Alabama woman, Recy Taylor, getting raped is so sad. It's also true for a lot black women and women of other skin colors. Women get attacked if they speak out of turn, decide to leave their abusers, and etc. Black women are overlooked in the feminism movement. They are an important part of feminism.
ReplyDeleteThe Combahee River Collective would do something about the men who raped & attack that poor black woman. The group's politics are to struggle against racial, sexual, heterosexual, and class oppression. (pg. 346) They would consider the raping of black women as a tool of oppression of black women.
I think the women of the Combahee River Collective would try to find a way to get the white men convicted. They would also say that the rape of Recy Taylor is a form of white male oppression to keep black women in line. They also would say that the raping of black women shows how important the lives of those black women are to white men. (pg. 348) The Combahee River Collective would also try to get more attention to the case of Recy Taylor.
After reading this article my heart goes out to Ms.Taylor. During the time she was raped black women were on the bottom. Black women were used to this kind of treatment and for nothing to be done about it. She states in her article that she was scared to speak up because she did not want to be seen differently also she along with other black women at the time knew that nothing would be done.
ReplyDeleteIf The Combahee River Collective’s were to take on this case and I were to join I do believe that they would take this very seriously and they would give support comfort to ms.Taylor. I believe that they would point out several things and back up there answers about how at the time there two men were white giving them full advantage to what they did, also they would point out that not only was Recy female but she was also black meaning that the two males knew that they would get away with what they did.
Once the Collective group got all the information they needed they would do things to get the word out there about what happened to Recy Taylor. I do believe after all they could do for her Recy Taylor would come out feeling more at ease with what happened to her years ago and I think finally she would deel like she got some justice.
The Recy Taylor article is one of the saddest story's I have ever heard, I think it should be one of the more popular stories about racism and we should hear more about it. My heart goes out to her. I think that it was pityful that nothing happened to the white men that did that to her. That shows us just how much black people meant to whites back then, especially black women. Blacks were at the very bottom and meant nothing to whites and that just makes me sick to my stomach.
ReplyDeleteI personally think that The Combahee River Collective's would take this and compleately turn it around. I feel like Ms. Recy taylor and her fa,ily would get a truck loud of support, defense, and comfort. The 7 white men that did this would get taken very seriously and I do not think that anything would ake Ms. Recy Taylor feel good if something did happen to her because she was raped butI do think she would feel a little more at ease because they did not get away with what they did to her.
The rape of Recy Taylor in Abbeville, Alabama in 1944 was most definitely an act of hate and control. The white men of this time raped this poor young woman to show control and dominance. The men felt they had control over her not only because she was black, but because she was also a woman. The horrible thing about this rape besides the rape itself is the fact that Recy Taylor felt she could not tell anyone about it because she felt so ashamed and because she knew nothing would be done about it because she was a young black woman during such a racist time. The fact that the men were protected by the police and not brought to justice is sickening. This horrible act was happening to many black women during this time but it went unnoticed because of their race and the state’s power to protect its reputation.
ReplyDeleteThe Combahee River Collective would have much compassion and sympathy for Recy Taylor. They would reassure her that she had nothing to be ashamed of. It was not her fault and that the police department of Abbeville is who she be ashamed of itself. The group would reaffirm her of the fact that the white men did this out of violence and in order to show power over her. The women of this group would also discuss how the rape received no public coverage and went unnoticed in the community. I think the group would encourage Recy Taylor’s brother and his fight for justice over these men.
The group would also give Recy Taylor much support and reassure her that she is not alone and she is not the only one this has happened to. The Combahee River Collective would use this act of hatred as another reason to fight for civil rights and equality. I think that Recy Taylor would feel uplifted after meeting with the group of women and realize that she was a victim of evil and hopefully use the horrible experience as a reason to help fight for black equality and to talk with other women who had this happen to them so they could share their experiences and hopefully feel reassured.
After reading this article I am sure that the Combahee River Collective, and even myself, would agree that this tragic story is very wrong and oppressive in many ways. Firstly, it is clear that this act was of racial discrimination towards Miss Recy Taylor because of the fact that it dealt with an African American women being gang raped by white men and the fact that her case was never dealt with. Secondly, it was an act of white-male dominance. At the time women, as well as African American women, were fighting for their rights and males liked to express their sense of dominance and power. Also, there was a lot of segregation during the Civil Rights Movement and Even African American males were a target of racial oppression. Thirdly, it is especially oppressive to Recy Taylor because of the fact that even though the case was never dealt with, the men that did this horrific crime were never punished.
ReplyDeleteAs an African American Feminist group, I believe that the Collective would show their full support and compassion for this poor young lady and for the crime that was committed towards her. They would definitely be in full support to take action towards this racist and feminist crime. The Collective would ensure that this case would be made very public and handled the proper way instead of just getting swept under the rug. Also, the Collective would make sure that such a crime and the consistency of this crime would still be remember and recognized in today’s textbooks. Such a hateful and oppressive crime should not be gone unseen.
It must have been extremely traumatizing for Recy Taylor to not only be violated, but have no justice from it either. I believe that the Collective would ensure Miss Taylor that they would do all that it could to help Recy Talor through this event and give her the proper justice she deserves that is clearly not administered in the following article.
Just the title and summary alone is enough to send shivers down your spine and a sharp pain in the pit of your stomach and heart.
ReplyDeleteOne perspective that might be offered from a black feminist is that as black feminist it is our duty to aid, protect, and defend our sisters whether they are feminists or not. This protection is for all of our sisters (every woman). However, with black women being overlooked and oppressed even more so than black men, it is our duty to not shun the responsibility or fear the outcome of standing up and fighting back against the injustice of black women.
It is also our responsibility to arrange and establish safe houses for our women and their families. It is our duty to be in full support of their struggles, as we all share the same burden and trails. Black men, being aware of the hideous oppression of black women should not try to find a way out for themselves, but should stand beside us and join the fight for equality (not just for races, but gender as well and not take part in the brutal injustice of overlooking black women).
It is our responsibility to not just fight with strength, but to fight with wisdom and integrity, exploring every resource that we can that will aid us.
Hw horrible is the headline of the newspaper article? It is so blunt and offensive. It shows how racism interlocks with the oppression of sexism.
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