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Difficulty: MediumBlack Feminist and Womanist Movements

Read the following excerpt from the Combahee River Collective Statement (1977):

'We believe that sexual politics under patriarchy is as pervasive in Black women's lives as are the politics of class and race. We also often find it difficult to separate race from class from sex oppression because in our lives they are most often experienced simultaneously. We know that there is such a thing as racial-sexual oppression which is neither solely racial nor solely sexual.'

Which of the following concepts is most directly described in this excerpt?

  1. A
    The belief that racial prejudice must be fully dismantled before gender discrimination can be addressed.
  2. B
    The focus on a universal sisterhood that prioritizes gender solidarity above all other social classifications.
  3. The interlocking systems of oppression, which require analyzing race, gender, and class simultaneously rather than as separate issues.Answer
  4. D
    The separation of class critique from gender advocacy to ensure a single-focus approach to women's liberation.

Answer

The interlocking systems of oppression, which require analyzing race, gender, and class simultaneously rather than as separate issues.
The correct answer is correct because the Combahee River Collective Statement is a foundational text of Black feminism that introduced the concept of 'interlocking' systems of oppression. The excerpt explicitly states that race, class, and sex oppression are experienced simultaneously, making it impossible to address them as separate, isolated issues.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus text to identify the core argument.
The text asserts that Black women experience race, class, and sex oppression simultaneously, making them inseparable in their daily lives.
Understanding the source's primary argument is necessary to connect it to the correct theoretical framework.
2
Align the identified argument with the concepts of Black feminism and womanism.
The simultaneous and combined operation of race, gender, and class describes the concept of interlocking systems of oppression (intersectionality).
This step matches the textual evidence to the historical and sociological terminology used in AP African American Studies.
3
Evaluate the answer choices to identify the correct option and eliminate distractors.
The choice describing interlocking systems of oppression is correct. The options proposing a sequential approach, a universal sisterhood, or the separation of class from gender represent misconceptions of Black feminist thought.
Distinguishing the holistic framework of Black feminism from single-axis or sequential approaches ensures a precise conceptual match.

Key Concept

Interlocking Systems of Oppression / Intersectionality
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Topics

Black Feminist and Womanist Movements

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