Cy Perry
WGSS 275
Professor Shaw
Blog 2
9/7/2016
Response to “Ain’t I a Woman?”
Popular costar in the Netflix original series, “Orange is the New Black,” Laverne Cox gave a sensational speech about what it is to be a transgendered person in the United States. Cox, who’s transition from male to female character, was shown throughout the Netflix series, is one of the icons in the trans community. She has shown what the process is like, talked about her own stories of oppression and has also told her audiences that it is all accomplishable. Her speech that basically reenacted Sojourner Truth’s speech, was the first done by a trans gendered person. The powerful speech was given at her talk about the way the trans community faces adversity and what is we as a community have to do to help the problem. Although this speech does not advertenly effect me, I was moved by it’s power. Although Cox did not completely read the speech word for word, she used some of the same ideas that Truth used and implemented it into what it is she was trying to persuade.
Kerry Washington, a top tier African American Actress, also reenacted the speech that Truth is so famously remembered for. Although Washington’s was in different context than that of Cox, Washington still had a tremendously powerful message concerning the issues with the racial bias that African American women face on a daily basis. Both of these two speeches are a must see to anyone who challenges the oppression faced by women and trans gendered people in every day circumstances.
As far as a personal reaction, I was moved by both of these talks. Two women of such prowess can simply get you on their side just simply by speaking. I am a fan of both of these individuals, (Washington in her comedic roles, and Cox in her powerful role in Orange is the New Black,) and have gained a tremendous amount of respect for both of these individuals. More reason than not, other than the fact that these two speeches were immensely effective in providing the community with more knowledge about the ideals they were speaking about, but because I have never seen these two act as the ambassadors that they are.
Many times celebrities will state their opinion about certain things that are going on with a community and will say that more people should have the same opinion as themselves. For example, the shootings that have killed many African American citizens of the United States. This was different. These speeches were carefully thought through, and these two were made into something of an icon for more than just their roles on the screen. They were made into ambassadors of the movements they are representing. This circumstance is new to me. I have never once seen a celebrity play a role in a movement like this before. Not only are they the first I have ever seen create this powerful effect from just talking, but they are also women. A good piece to see some of the communities reactions can be seen here, http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/05/laverne_cox.html . It is always important to see others reactions to compare them to your own. This helps a reader gain more from a perspective they may not have had.
In the biased community that the US has come to be, it is rare to see women have a role in such important roles. That it just a statement I have come to see. That is why these two pieces were so special to me. They are the first ones to really have an impact on me. That is why this piece was so crucial to my learning experience. That is because it felt truly genuine because I have never seen anything like it.
Kerry Washington, a top tier African American Actress, also reenacted the speech that Truth is so famously remembered for. Although Washington’s was in different context than that of Cox, Washington still had a tremendously powerful message concerning the issues with the racial bias that African American women face on a daily basis. Both of these two speeches are a must see to anyone who challenges the oppression faced by women and trans gendered people in every day circumstances.
As far as a personal reaction, I was moved by both of these talks. Two women of such prowess can simply get you on their side just simply by speaking. I am a fan of both of these individuals, (Washington in her comedic roles, and Cox in her powerful role in Orange is the New Black,) and have gained a tremendous amount of respect for both of these individuals. More reason than not, other than the fact that these two speeches were immensely effective in providing the community with more knowledge about the ideals they were speaking about, but because I have never seen these two act as the ambassadors that they are.
Many times celebrities will state their opinion about certain things that are going on with a community and will say that more people should have the same opinion as themselves. For example, the shootings that have killed many African American citizens of the United States. This was different. These speeches were carefully thought through, and these two were made into something of an icon for more than just their roles on the screen. They were made into ambassadors of the movements they are representing. This circumstance is new to me. I have never once seen a celebrity play a role in a movement like this before. Not only are they the first I have ever seen create this powerful effect from just talking, but they are also women. A good piece to see some of the communities reactions can be seen here, http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/05/laverne_cox.html . It is always important to see others reactions to compare them to your own. This helps a reader gain more from a perspective they may not have had.
In the biased community that the US has come to be, it is rare to see women have a role in such important roles. That it just a statement I have come to see. That is why these two pieces were so special to me. They are the first ones to really have an impact on me. That is why this piece was so crucial to my learning experience. That is because it felt truly genuine because I have never seen anything like it.
You're right Laverne Cox has made such an impact by sharing her personal story and though her performance on Orange is the New Black. But do you think that it could be potentially problematic that her singular story starts to become the face of the trans* movement? Do you think it would be wise for her to divest power so that other stories can be heard too?
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