Chapter Thirteen: Final Exercises

Final Exercise #5: “Marxism, Feminism, and Black Liberation”

Marxism, Feminism, and Black Liberation

Introduction

Marxism, the political philosophy coined by Marx in the 1800s, had a powerful influence on many social movements, including the Black Panther Party. The Black Panther Party,alsoderiving inspiration fromMalcolm X, put together a 10-point platform, withissues and proposals thatstill hold true today.While a strong manifesto highlighting the many problems that plague their community, the 10-point program did not specifically address the issue of Black women. The Black Lives Matter movement, on the other hand, has addressed these issues, as they address police and economic violence against their communities.

Prompts for exercise. Please address all items

  1. How does the Black Panther Party (BPP) adapt Marxism to the struggle for Black liberation in the U.S.? What does the BPP take (or not take) from Marx and what does it add and why?
  2. Drawing from hooks and the concept of intersectionality, explain how bell hooks would have enhance the political platform of the BPP to include a feminist and/or queer analysis (which both Marx and the BPP lack).
  3. Related hooks’ enhanced (feminist/queer) platform of the BPP to that of the Black Lives Matter Movement (BLM) Platform. How are they similar, how are they different?
  4. What are the theoretical and practical implications of hooks’ analysis for the current movement for Black liberation in the U.S.?

Steps to create the Final Exercise. Please follow all of these steps

  1. Re-read Notes on “Marx,” “bell hooks,”
  2. Look at your notes and your underlined texts of “The Communist Manifesto,” nd “Feminism is for Everybody,”
  3. Look up terms in “Basic Definitions of Marxist Terminology” – “”Definitions of Sexuality and Gender,” and in “Intersectionality 101.”
  4. Have an awesome discussion
  5. Make a eleven-minute long presentation in any of the formats suggested below
  6. Title every submission and include teammates names. The title needs to include your table number
  7. At the end of class today, please upload your notes, texts, PPs, Spoken Word written text, script for Skits, and notes, images and videos to the Final Project folder in Moodle. Everything needs to be titled (including table number) and include the names of teammates.

Possible Presentation Formats

Spoken Word, Skits, Video and image analysis, Power Point                                                                                                                Other creative formats might also be accepted, previous consultation with facilitators

Presentation Guidelines

Your presentation needs to have an introduction, a body where you draw your argument and present evidence or examples, and a conclusion. We need to hear from all the students in your group.

Introduction 

Thoroughly explain the concepts that will help you present your vision.

Body 

Be creative! Here is where you can use pictures, videos, poems, spoken word, or other forms to illustrate, analyze, and share your thoughts. Remember to tie your examples with your author’s concepts or ideas.

Conclusion 

Bring it all together. Briefly recap concepts and examples or illustrations to explain how all of the above ties in with your life and vision for a better world.

Grading Rubric

Group Graded: Total
Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary
Quotes from text No quotes used Quotes with little analysis Quotes with some analysis Quotes with full analysis
Clarity of ideas Almost impossible to understand Difficult to understand Failry easy to understand Clear and easy to understand
Quality of Presentation Poor use of resources, boring. Few students present Some use of resources, somewhat boring. Some students present Good use of resources, entertaining. Many students present Great use of resources, impressive. Most to all students present
Length of Presentation Shorter 3 mins, longer 11 mins Between 3-5 mins Between 5-6 Between 6-11

 

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