by Crimethinc. Workers' Collective
Available in 284 free installments
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A classic step in self-empowerment has been to reclaim the boxes we're forced into, reinterpreting them as politicized identities. By linking up with others like us, we find validation of our experiences and perspectives, and companions with whom to struggle against the forces that oppress us and others.
The matter of identity is indeed complex. A person's identity is not a set of fixed essences, but a fluid intersection of social, political, and psychological processes. Yet though the constructed identities foisted upon us by this society may not reflect what we consider to be our true selves, we must engage with them in order to subvert them. Whether or not we want it to be the case, our experiences are shaped by the ways we are perceived, so it can be useful to organize with those who share our experiences.
For instance, even in gatherings of radicals or others thought to be conscious about
racism and white supremacy, people of color can feel alienated, for example when there
is a great disparity in numbers between those who have white privilege in common and You can show respect for others
those who do not. In such situations, one option is to call for a "caucus" or establish a by learning how they identify
"safer space" wherein people of color invite others who identify similarly to gather and themselves?as Puerto Rican rather
, 1 1 r ? 11 ? than Hispanic, for example?and
interact m an exclusive space, or at least taking a break from the potentially taxing expe- (j^jng these terms accordingly.
rience of being in a minority that must deal with uneven power dynamics. The purpose
of this is not to exclude those who do not identify as people of color. It is, rather, a way
for those who can feel alienated, marginalized, or victimized in environments in which
the tone is set by more privileged groups to come together, support one another, and
organize as they desire. It can be a relief to take some time off from the challenges of
interacting with others who do not share one's frame of reference for oppression, and
from feeling the pressure of others' observation and expectations. Ultimately, it is in
the best interest of everyone in a group that all individuals within it feel comfortable
and empowered.
Caucuses and safer spaces need not be limited to people of color, of course: all who
feel they might benefit from this format can employ it. They need not happen only at
short-term gatherings of radicals, either: it can make sense to have weekly caucuses in
a community, or monthly ones within a collective, or to call for one in the midst of an
organizing effort. Women-only houses can offer round-the-clock safer space, youth-only
radio stations can provide opportunities for individuals to develop their unique voices,
queer-only magazines and action groups can carry out long-term campaigns. In this
way, the identities that mark targeted groups for oppression can be turned into sites for
organizing resistance to it.
Undermining Oppression 5^9
Self-Empowerment
Undermining Oppression 570
Covering the surface of this society is a complex network of minute rules and norms through which the most original minds and energetic characters can barely penetrate. People's wills are not shattered, but softened, bent, and guided. We are seldom forced to act, but are constantly restrained from acting. Such repression does not destroy, but rather prevents existence; it does not tyrannize, but instead compresses, stifles, and stupefies, so that each individual grows up into a dutiful lamb that needs no shepherding to stay within the fence-line. This is not political repression, which necessitates secret police and prison camps, but cultural repression, in which people police and imprison themselves.
