As much as this film presents itself as work that explores the definitions of queer theory and politics , it also functions as a source of self discovery . In spirit of Somerville ’ s Queering the Color Line , Sabea and I set out to tell a story and name the intricate and precise realities that contribute to being black women . The insertion of the word queer in between black and womxn was intentional . This move allotted a space where we could use poetry , photography , music and video to explore exactly what queer means . Given the combination of the various mediums , we were able to explore themes of sexuality , mental health , coming of age , family , time , love , blackness , and womanhood . With this said , I will use this analysis to focus on how the functions of nature contribute to a successful exploration of the intersections of queerness , blackness , and womanhood .
Both Sabea and I are from the city . Sabea ’ s from the Bronx and I ’ m from Newark . We grew up in fast paced environments , where tan concrete and over pouring of homes , stores , and buildings mute the greenery . There are parks where you would find pickup basketball games and children playing . However , given the speed and need to keeping pushing forward on to the next bus , obligation , or day , one would find it difficult to really take a pause . Even though we both identify as city girls and love where we come from , we did make the decision to leave .
In many biographies and account of prominent queer figures ranging from , James Baldwin and Bill T . Jones , there is a narrative of leaving and escaping in order to discover and understand . In this film , nature mirrors that escape and plays an interesting role in this dynamic . We walked the Nature Trail on campus , and paused at points that resonated with the soundtrack , poems , and present mood . Through the speed alterations and deep attention to color , one can see that both me and Sabea were able to uncover the layers of our stories and identities in order to achieve some level of truth . The various scenes of just standing , sitting , walking , and being in nature communicates a level of vulnerability . From here , the space to both deconstruct these loaded terms , but also rebuild and bring their complexities to light was created .
In short , this film was liberatory . Watching the end result , surpassed the confines of theory . I could read the queer theories of Somerville and Sedwgick . But I could also feel the truth and honesty that was portrayed in the personal narratives and memoirs of writers like Audre Lorde and Rebecca Walker . To be able to use our personal experiences and insights was a risk . However , as Nina Simone defines in the opening scenes of the film , freedom is no fear . And through the planning , filming , editing , revising , and publishing of black . queer . womxn . Sabea and I were able to achieve a snippet of this liberation .
-Alliyah Allen