RACE, GENDER, AND RESISTANCE: CRENSHAW’S INTERSECTIONALITY ANALYSIS

Abstract

The representation of Black women in historical films has become an important subject in contemporary literary and cultural studies, particularly in understanding how race and gender intersect within systems of oppression. This study examines the intersectionality of racial and gender discrimination experienced by Harriet Tubman and other Black women as portrayed in Harriet (2019), directed by Kasi Lemmons. This study employs a qualitative descriptive approach within an interpretative film analysis framework to explore how intersecting identities are constructed and represented through the film's narrative, dialogues, and visual elements. Drawing on Kimberlé Crenshaw's theory of intersectionality, the analysis focuses on selected scenes that illustrate structural, political, and representational intersectionality, as well as the responses developed by Harriet Tubman in confronting discrimination. The findings reveal that the film portrays racial and gender discrimination as interconnected systems embedded in slavery, discriminatory legal institutions, and historical representation. The analysis also demonstrates that Harriet Tubman confronts these intersecting forms of oppression through resistance, agency, and solidarity, transforming personal survival into collective action for the liberation of others. Overall, the study shows that Harriet not only reconstructs the historical experiences of Black women under slavery but also highlights their resilience, leadership, and contribution to the abolitionist movement. By presenting Harriet Tubman as an active historical agent rather than merely a victim of oppression, the film serves as a meaningful cinematic representation that reclaims Black women's place in history through an intersectional perspective.