--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whiteness celebrated in Paris is…" description: "\"“The whiteness celebrated in Paris is Burning is not just any old brand of whiteness but rather that brutal imperial ruling-class capitalist patriarcha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/bell-hooks-464_identity_the-whiteness-celebrated-in-paris-is-bur_2932432.jpg" --- # The whiteness celebrated in Paris is Burning is not just… ![“The whiteness celebrated in Paris is Burning is not just any old brand of whiteness but rather that brutal imperial ruling-class capitalist patriarchal whiteness that presents itself -its way of life- as the only meaningful life there is. What could be more reassuring to a white public fearful…” quote by Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/bell-hooks-464_identity_the-whiteness-celebrated-in-paris-is-bur_2932432.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/bell-hooks-464_identity_the-whiteness-celebrated-in-paris-is-bur_2932432.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/bell-hooks-464_identity_the-whiteness-celebrated-in-paris-is-bur_2932432.jpg) > ““The whiteness celebrated in Paris is Burning is not just any old brand of whiteness but rather that brutal imperial ruling-class capitalist patriarchal whiteness that presents itself -its way of life- as the only meaningful life there is. What could be more reassuring to a white public fearful that marginalized disenfranchised black folks might rise any day now make revolutionary black liberation struggle a reality than a documentary affirming that colonized, victimized, exploited black folks, are all too willing to be complicit in perpetuating the fantasy that ruling-class white culture is the quintessential site of unrestricted joy, freedom, power and pleasure.”” [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The documentary critiques how dominant white culture frames its own joy as universal, masking oppression and marginalization of Black people. **In simple terms:** White culture claims exclusive joy, hiding oppression. Key Takeaway Question dominant narratives of happiness. Themes race culture power imperialism Mood critical provocative Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - media analysis - educational curricula - activist discussions - policy debates Key Concepts critical theory social critique intersectionality Questions to Reflect On - How does media shape perceptions of race? - What alternatives to dominant narratives exist? A Different Perspective Complexity of individual experiences may be oversimplified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black Liberation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-liberation-1052707/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Meaningful life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful-life/) [Neocolonialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neocolonialism-130109/) [Paris Is Burning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paris-is-burning-217765/) [Patriarchal Whiteness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriarchal-whiteness-4329951/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Representation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representation/) [Revolutionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutionary/) [Social justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-justice/) [Whiteness Brutal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whiteness-brutal-4329952/) [Whiteness Celebrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whiteness-celebrated-4329950/) ## Related quotes > [It is crucial for the future of the Black liberation struggle that we remain ever mindful that ours is a shared struggle, that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-is-crucial-for-the-future-of-the-black-liberation-struggle-that-we/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [As long as imperialism exists it will, by definition, exert its domination over other countries. Today that domination is called neocolonialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/as-long-as-imperialism-exists-it-will-by-definition-exert-its/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [The formal granting of independence created a more Manichean system of dependency and exploitation, since for those who practice it, it means power without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame/the-formal-granting-of-independence-created-a-more-manichean-system/) [Kwame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame/) > [“Most American women, particularly white women, have not decolonized their thinking either in relation to the racism, sexism, and class elitism they hold towards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-american-women-particularly-white-women-have-not-decolonized/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“remembering how the United States and Europe have protected their investments by supporting rapacious African dictators like Mobutu, we must speak of neocolonialism as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hochschild/remembering-how-the-united-states-and-europe-have-protected-their/) [Adam Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hochschild/) > [“In the great tradition of Paris Is Burning, bring out your library cards! Because reading is what? Fundamental!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/in-the-great-tradition-of-paris-is-burning-bring-out-your-library/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > ['Paris Is Burning' was only just a glimpse into what was happening within the ballroom scene. The difference is that 'Pose' is opening the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/paris-is-burning-was-only-just-a-glimpse-into-what-was-happening/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [The first time I came to New York - and the first time I saw the movie 'Paris Is Burning' - I learned about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreja-pejic/the-first-time-i-came-to-new-york-and-the-first-time-i-saw-the-movie/) [Andreja Pejic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreja-pejic/) > [I like 'Paris is Burning' by Jennie Livington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-rees/i-like-paris-is-burning-by-jennie-livington/) [Dee Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-rees/) > [“Watching Paris is Burning, I began to think that the many yuppie-looking, straight -acting, pushy, predominantly white folks in the audience were there because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/watching-paris-is-burning-i-began-to-think-that-the-many-yuppie/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I always said if I played a drag queen, I'd want to create a template with the realness they talk about in 'Paris Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-porter/i-always-said-if-i-played-a-drag-queen-i-d-want-to-create-a-template/) [Billy Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-porter/) > [Any movement that has been successful in this country for Black liberation has included old and young, men and women, and people not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-parker/any-movement-that-has-been-successful-in-this-country-for-black/) [Nate Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-parker/) > [My flock is black, my flock is white. One has got to say to our people, "I love you. I care for you, enormously."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/my-flock-is-black-my-flock-is-white-one-has-got-to-say-to-our-people/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [The movement for black lives isn't just about black people. Black liberation has never just been about black people. It's been about a fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/the-movement-for-black-lives-isn-t-just-about-black-people-black/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [The war against the Black Liberation movement by the FBI/U.S. government was most influential for me in seeing the necessity for armed self-defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rosenberg/the-war-against-the-black-liberation-movement-by-the-fbi-u-s/) [Susan Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rosenberg/) ## More by Bell Hooks > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' It's as if those words couldn't possibly speak to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/in-this-culture-the-phrase-black-woman-is-not-synonymous-with-tender/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It's interesting to look at all the aspects where everyday Americans, many of whom are not college educated, are thinking deeply now about our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-s-interesting-to-look-at-all-the-aspects-where-everyday-americans/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The true teacher is within us. A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Advancing the notion that there can be many "feminisms" has served the conservative and liberal political interests of women seeking status and privileged class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/advancing-the-notion-that-there-can-be-many-feminisms-has-served-the/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You must have courage to love, you have to have a profound will to do what is right to love, and it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/you-must-have-courage-to-love-you-have-to-have-a-profound-will-to-do/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients - care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-truly-love-we-must-learn-to-mix-various-ingredients-care-affection/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Often emphasis on identity and lifestyle is appealing because it creates a false sense that one is engaged in praxis. However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 Bell Hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More Identity quotes > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think everybody, or the great majority of human beings, have this aspiration to become other: to live a different identity, at least for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-think-everybody-or-the-great-majority-of-human-beings-have-this/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. 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