CONTEMPT – intersectional invisibility
“We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”
S
ramsay.cummins@gmail.com
Streets clad with people bellowing in harmony as though a long-fought war had just been won. Cheering draped in flags representative of sexual orientation, political ideals and nationalities embraced differences, giving the illusion of solidarity as a nation. The realization is that for every one of those elated citizens another one failed to see how on this day American values appeared reborn. As the dust settles we are still faced with almost one half of the population who refuses to see and accept America for who she is, a diverse sovereign entity. Almost one half of Americans
witnessed the irreparable glass ceiling shatter, penetrated by the first woman, the first woman of color elected to one of the highest positions of the land, and felt disgusted toward those who don’t share their views. Almost one half of Americans riddled with hatred as their lives are forever changed by the institution of true democracy. Almost one half of citizens failed to see that on this day there was a semblance of hope for all those marginalized.
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I'M Italian Issue 11 January 2021
ome may recall this memorable quote from the 1996 American movie “Independence Day”, or recognize it as being a mangled version of Dylan Thomas’s Poem entitled “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” written when his father was losing his sight. The election of 2020 marks another significant time where African American women did not go quietly into the night. African American women refused to disappear without a fight. Sadly, we still cannot celebrate our Independence Day.
By Ramsay Cummins