Critical Essay on Moonlight and Intersectionality

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Moonlight is both intimidating and far-reaching with its implications.

Intersectionality is a sociological theory that various aspects of one person do not exist in isolation. Racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and other forms of prejudice and discrimination interrelate with one another to create social systems of oppression. Chiron is in class and the teacher asks if he's all right, and a bully responds for him claiming that he needs a tampon. Chiron is gay,

He uses sexist language to insult him not homophobic language. Homophobia interrelates with sexism partly due to misconceptions about what it means to be homosexual. An ignorant point of view about homophobia if a man is gay he is also kin to a woman. Chiron is black, gay, and poor, he faces certain charges in life cz he's black. When Chiron finally stands up to the bully he gets arrested. (Convicted of a crime as if he were an adult)

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According to the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, minors of color are more likely to be expelled than white minors for the same violation of rules or conduct. White youths are over 1/3 more likely to have sold drugs than youths of color however African American youths are arrested at twice the rate of whites and represent nearly half of all incarcerated youth for drug offenses within the juvie system. Chiron was bullied mercilessly with physical assault related to homophobia.

When Chiron meets with Kevin after a decade or so, Kevin says that Chiron is not what he expected as Chiron was a sensitive child that grew up to be a drug dealer with fronts in his teeth and huge rippling muscles. In an article for the Harvard political review, African American writer Ariel Ojo explains that Chiron is performing

Manhood is what Chiron perceives as black masculinity. Chiron faces challenges because he is black and because he is gay but he also faces challenges specifically because he is both. He is performing black masculinity specifically as of means to distance himself from accusations of homosexuality and femininity. A cultural standard can often be defined in 3 categories. Perception, exception, and representation. Black masculinity is different from by contrast white masculinity because the perception of black masculinity carries a negative connotation in America, perception, not reality. This means that it is impossible to define black masculinity without addressing harmful stereotypes that are attributed to black men either in society or in the media. Chiron eventually adopts the stereotypes and gets gold fronts. Adopts the impression that is both feared by white men and romanticized in popular culture and becomes as Kevin remarks “hard”. As a youth, Kevin told Chiron that he cannot appear “soft” or else the world will devour him. Chiron learns this lesson at a young age. His sensitivity is not supported only admonished. Although it is done in a way from Kevin that appears to be coming from a place of care. Black masculinity creates expectations amongst black men. African American writer Mathew Jones claims “The media portrays black men as violent, hypersexual, and incomplete beings. It is proven that the media unjustly frames their news stories to sympathize more towards whites and less for blacks” Jones further states that it a black man does not have views, values, or morals then a line part of the black community will be quick to label them as ‘sell outs’ adopting an intersectional lens in media helps make a character three dimensional. Chiron and Kevin do not follow predictable and narrative patterns. Chiron, a gay character does not die because he is gay. A concept that is very familiar among the gay community… Chiron is also not used as a prop for a narrative on sexually transmitted diseases. Chiron only has one sexual experience in the film and not in such a way that he could contract an STI… Moonlight also portrays Chiron’s sexuality as something accepted by some and hated by others. As said Chiron is bullied in school due to the fact that he is suspected of being gay however he is loved and respected by others. Such as Juan and Teresa. Their love and wise response to Chiron's sexual confusion contradicts the stereotype of black people's homophobia.

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Critical Essay on Moonlight and Intersectionality. (2023, October 09). Edubirdie. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/critical-essay-on-moonlight-and-intersectionality/
“Critical Essay on Moonlight and Intersectionality.” Edubirdie, 09 Oct. 2023, edubirdie.com/examples/critical-essay-on-moonlight-and-intersectionality/
Critical Essay on Moonlight and Intersectionality. [online]. Available at: <https://edubirdie.com/examples/critical-essay-on-moonlight-and-intersectionality/> [Accessed 3 May 2024].
Critical Essay on Moonlight and Intersectionality [Internet]. Edubirdie. 2023 Oct 09 [cited 2024 May 3]. Available from: https://edubirdie.com/examples/critical-essay-on-moonlight-and-intersectionality/
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