The gist of Angela’s lecture was that we need to change our perspective on how we look at and try to fight gender violence and try to create a world that truly is equal for everyone. She later noted in her lecture that when our nation talks about “all people are created equal” people have sort of twisted that from the beginning. According to our history, all people is not inclusive in the slightest. It has predominantly pertained to affluent white men, and Angela goes on to say that these presumptions of generality even in the constitution referred to only that small minority. Davis also brings up the point that we as a society have separated black lives matter and all lives matter to contradict each other. The reality is, if black lives matter, all lives matter, they’re inclusive of each other.
Throughout her lecture Davis put heavy emphasis on the connection between racial violence and gender violence and how these two are intertwined. She stated that white women overcome oppression when they reject the privileges placed upon them because of their skin color, because those privileges aren’t real. I think Angela hit the nail on the head with this one. She’s stating that white women are sort of placed on this pedestal of privilege because of the socioeconomic status that comes along with being married to a white man, when really that’s just a veil for white women being oppressed at similar levels that any woman of color would experience. I agree with Angela and do think that it’s important for white women to stand up for themselves and fight to be equal and not just fight for themselves, but also alongside oppressed women of color.
Davis also stated that prisons are gendering apparatus’ because there’s separate men and women prisons. She also said that police and prisons are oppression apparatus’ and then went on to discuss carceral feminism and the idea that the lives of women can be safeguarded of violence by police and the prison system. I see what Davis is saying here but I don’t know how she would suggest this is changed. I know that the prison system is a broken system and that there’s a lot of controversy with the police and racism within the force, but I can’t think of a better way to handle crime and the legal system. Davis said it’s ridiculous to believe that violent prisons can solve problems of violence. Davis kind of lost me at this part in her lecture, I saw the connection she was making to gender and racial violence to the prison system and the idea that it makes people who go in more violent when they come out, but I thought this part of her lecture wasn’t explained as well as it could’ve been.
She then concluded her lecture with saying that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Also, that gender violence is the most pandemic form of violence in the world. Angela seems to be an extremist when it comes to gender violence and racial/human rights. I don’t know if I can agree with her on these statements because I personally don’t know much about these topics, but I do agree with her on her statement about injustice.
I enjoyed how you summarized the gist of Davis’s speech in the beginning it gave a general summary of what she was speaking about. Also bringing up her point of “the connection between racial violence and gender violence and how these two are intertwined. “, was very important to the basis of how the rest of her speech was presented about the topics. Also, at the end when you brought up your view and how you don’t know much about the topic was a good addition to your post. Bringing up Hallward would have also been helpful in bringing up some of these topics.
These are all tremendous analytical items you have made from her speech! She had a great flow in taking the main ideas and broad topics and connecting them. Her speech did not hesitate to touch on the issues people in society shy away from; she pulled them out into the open for everyone to see. I like how you emphasized on the part in her speech about white women rejecting the privileges they don’t truly have. Her focus on women was empowering, as she talked about letters sent from a white southern woman, that said “chasm created by crimes of white women, reject the privilege of white skin.
Hi Sarah! I really enjoyed reading your post about the Angela Davis event. In your third paragraph, you talk about Davis’s thoughts on prison. In my post on this event, I talk about how she is part of an group called Sisters Inside, an organization that helps out female inmates. I was wondering what you think of this group? I can see both why it is a good and bad organization. As I wrote in my blog “My boyfriend, Jacob, just left the military police after 4 years of service. After talking to him and hearing his stories, I can understand why [this group is] controversial. Jacob spent the last four years dedicating his life to putting away people who broke the law for good reason. To know someone was helping out inmates (i.e. Sisters Inside) would likely frustrate officers because they feel the inmates are not worthy or in need of “coddling.”” On the other hand, I feel like this is an important organization, because although they are inmates, they are still human, and all life should be treated equally.
I really enjoyed your post as it really emphasizes Davis’ call to action. Especially the idea of privilege. I agree with Davis and you that rejecting privilege whether is gender, racial, or socioeconomic privilege is detrimental to promoting the rights of others. I think what Davis was trying to say with carceral feminism is that we must culturally make the change to end gender violence before it happens. rather than placing the sole responsibility on the police to stop it after it already happened. Part of this change is already happening with the “Me Too” movement as we are culturally punishing perpetrators of gender violence. This movement is at the point of Hallward’s point that “when we tell these kinds of stories, it begins to change the culture” which is the heart of the “Me Too” movement.
A lot of the points you made within your post I can really resonate with. The biggest one that stands out to me is the connection of Black Lives Matter to All Lives Matter. As a topic, I’ve struggled to talk to people your summary of the two ideas and their connection is perfect! As you stated, “The reality is, if black lives matter, all lives matter, they’re inclusive of each other.” Another idea you topic you brought up on unrecognized privilege was also really clarifying. Overall, your summarizing and the addition of our own opinions on Davis’s ideas are very refreshing.
Hi Sarah! I enjoyed reading your thoughts and summarizations about the Angela Davis speech! Your first paragraph was really good, and I really liked how integrated your ideas with the summaries of the speech. Much like you, the speech fell short for me during the prison segment. The one thing I wish you integrated into your post is Hallward’s Ted Talk, but other than that your post was really great. I enjoyed how your first and last paragraphs discussed the overall ideas of the speech, but then you dug deeper into more specific ideas in paragraphs two and three. Good Job!