Narratives of Qpoc Activism against Gentrification and Imperialism: Beyond Bars to Battlefronts

Soheil Asefi, CUNY

This article explores the intersection of queer identities, anti-imperialist politics, and radical activism through the oral histories of two Queer People of Color (QPoC) activists, Imani Henry(New York) and Ricardo Jiménez(Chicago). Drawing on their biographical narratives, the article traces their involvement in Marxist political organizations, struggles against gentrification, state repression, and the commodification of LGBTQ+ activism under rainbow capitalism. Imani Henry, a Jamaican-born activist, and Ricardo Jiménez, a Puerto Rican revolutionary, provide unique insights into how queer identities intersect with broader social and political struggles in the United States and Caribbean diaspora. This study highlights the role of political parties, grassroots activism, and intersectional resistance in shaping contemporary QPoC activism. By analyzing these testimonies, the article contributes to a broader understanding of radical politics, queerness, and anti-imperialist struggles, offering a new lens on the complexities of LGBTQ+ movements and the role of revolutionary activism in forging transnational solidarity.

No extended abstract or paper available

 Presented in Session 13. Queer Communities, Social Controversies