Response to the Teacher
The importance of intersectionality in fighting for the rights of vulnerable groups is undeniable, and it needs to be incorporated into the process of liberation to ensure that no one is left behind. The notorious refusal of white women to include African American women in the NOW movement impeded the promotion of feminist ideas significantly (Taylor 4). In the described case, intersectionality would have been helpful since it allowed unifying women as an oppressed class within both the dominant (white) and the marginalized (African American) communities. Thus, intersectionality would have introduced greater clarity while allowing for differentiation between the needs of while middle-class and African American lower-class women.
At the same time, when an original monolith of a movement, such as BLM, becomes divided into smaller sections, it may lose its power. Specifically, in regard to the BTLM idea, the source of conflict has been obscured as well; while initially, the abhorrent actions of the police against Black people were condemned, the BTLM movement suggests looking at a wider range of sources of attacks, from domestic violence to random acts of violence. The specified goal suggests a much longer fight, in which the victory for the rights of Black people, in general, to be treated by police with dignity would be an important milestone.
Response to Lilian
The idea of the metaphorical head and neck being mutually dependent on each other is important speculation of which one should take notice. Therefore, I fully agree that it is crucial to remove any traces of bigotry against vulnerable groups in the leadership domain. Tus, the head of any organization or group of people will be able to select the solutions that meet the needs of all those involved, and especially the marginalized groups (Lewis 145). However, the question of how the neck mentioned above could direct the head the required way in case the leader becomes delusional or prejudiced is a rather challenging one. Thus, the promotion of reasonable opinions and social justice must start with citizens as important political agents within the community. It is essential for people to provide support for marginalized groups on political, social, and economic levels so that they could receive the justice that they deserve. Moreover, demanding change in the leadership once the current head shows the signs of discrimination or biases is crucial.
Works Cited
Lewis, Gavin. ​WCIV Volume II. Cengage Learning, 2012.
Taylor, Keeanga-Yamahtta, editor. How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective. Haymarket Books, 2017.