In “Contested Membership: Black Gay Identities and the Politics of AIDS,” Cathy Cohen explores “how the concept of “blackness”…is used to demarcate the boundaries of group membership,” and causes a “secondary marginalization” of African American lesbians and gays (2,3). This marginalization is demonstrated in numerous ways but most significantly, in how the black community has been unwilling to respond to the AIDS crisis plaguing its members. This indifference is visible in “the distribution of (AIDS’) resources, services, access, and… underfunded community-based education programs,” which have all contributed to the spread of the disease (3). This devastation is evident in the statistics: “32%” of the total AIDS cases are African Americans and over half the female and children infected are also African American” (7). However, despite these horrifying facts, there was no “lobbying (for federal funds or support)…by the NAACP or The Urban League” (7). Unfortunately, AIDS is
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This experience highlights the need to understand that “identities are (socially) constructed,” and neither “homogenous” nor “stable” (15). Thus, it is important for “social scientists…to redefine groups, with special attention paid to the most marginalized” (14). Moreover, it is important to determine how to “incorporate these subgroups into the base,” with emphasis being placed on “social construction and contextual meaning” (15). “Black Gay Identities and the Politics of AIDS” describes identity politics at their worst and how such tactics can negatively impact a community. Moreover, the article also demonstrates that fluidness of identities and the how scientists need to redefine or eliminate social categories. Thus, the most disregarded members of society, would have equal
This experience highlights the need to understand that “identities are (socially) constructed,” and neither “homogenous” nor “stable” (15). Thus, it is important for “social scientists…to redefine groups, with special attention paid to the most marginalized” (14). Moreover, it is important to determine how to “incorporate these subgroups into the base,” with emphasis being placed on “social construction and contextual meaning” (15). “Black Gay Identities and the Politics of AIDS” describes identity politics at their worst and how such tactics can negatively impact a community. Moreover, the article also demonstrates that fluidness of identities and the how scientists need to redefine or eliminate social categories. Thus, the most disregarded members of society, would have equal