In Honor Of Harriet Tubman’s Combahee River Raid

What are Identity politics? Identity politics are people that base their identities on social class. For example, a feminist always votes for female candidates strictly because they are female or African American believing that police officers are to get them because of their skin color. Another example is women believing men treat them differently because they are female. I feel that people pull that card only when people actually experience something. People use identity politics when they are uncomfortable. At the same time, there are gay people who have totally different views on other gay people or African American people who feel that cops are not targeting them based on color.

Asad Haider argues that Identity politics can cause segregation because it highlights our differences which can be easier to divide and conquer. It was very interesting to me learning about this because I don't know if I am on the right track but what I can take from this is that there is a left side and a right side to this, the left is liberals and the right are conservatives. This makes me think about which is the worst identity politics because I feel that it has managed to create only two ways of thinking. Having a Pakistani heritage, Asad Haider mentions belonging to two worlds and how he doesn't really fit into either. He feels that he belongs to both worlds because Asad spoke one language at home and another in school.

The Combahee river collective from 1974 to 1980 was a feminine collective that experienced racism, homophobia, white feminism, and rank oppression based on their gender, race, and class. It is also an important document in the history of black feminism. They named themselves after the Combahee River Raid where Harriet Tubman freed more the 750 slaves in 1863. “They had many projects like eliminating racism, abortion rights, battered women, rape, and healthcare”. Barbara Smith, Beverly Smith, and Demita Frazier helped intersect gender, sexuality, and class by bringing their struggles together. Asad Haider provides a comprehensive history of identity politics with the roots of the Combahee River Collective. Haider argues that we must move away from individual groups demanding inclusion within existing structures to work towards a broader social change.

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In conclusion, I agree with Asad Haider's belief that identity politics causes segregation because it highlights people's differences which makes it easier to divide. It is almost as if identity has become a replacement for real arguments. I have seen some interviews with Hasad Haider and his thoughts are very deep. I have learned a lot about identity politics, especially with the Combahee River Collective. How Barbara Smith, Beverly Smith, and Demita Frazier talk about their involvement of racism, homophobia, gender, race, sexuality, economic oppression etc. Their beliefs were to clarify their place in the women's movement of feminism and ultimately women coming together for equality. Although I had a hard time understanding this chapter, it was very interesting and exciting to learn about it.

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