Scan barcode
A review by zmorris1923
How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
5.0
I loved this book. My favorite interviews were with Barbara Smith, Demita Frazier, and Alicia Garza. Definitely something I will have to reread and annotate. I borrowed my copy from the public library, but I want this book in my personal library as well as the LGBTQ Iowa Archives and Library.
The interview with Barbara Smith highlighted the importance of intersectionality, identity politics (and the origin of the phrase!), and coalitions which seemed to be a theme throughout the series of interviews. Working together is essential to making each organizations' fights easier because one would have so many more people on one's side.
The perspective of pre-Roe v. Wade was also necessary because obviously we now live in a post Roe v. Wade country--the differences from now and then are minimalized and it accentuates the similarities. The fights that are still going on for bodily autonomy and reproductive freedoms, as well as fights against sterilization, genocide, and colonialism.
On the future of organizing and rebellion: We need to be able to not only organize, but show we can govern. Not gentle capitalism, nor neoliberalism. But something else. I say anarchism, some say socialism and communism or Marxism. Something needs to change and we need to be willing to be that change.
I found it incredibly inspiring reading this book. Activism is a job, it's work that needs to be continually done. It needs to be recognized and supported. I want to do this work for queer and trans people, but that work cannot ONLY be done for QT people, it also needs to recognize the intersection of oppression. Working alongside other organizations is how we can do that.
I think being too broad as an organization can potentially be detrimental. Many organizations, working as committees almost, who focus on their specific field and show up for each other is an ideal I think. I want to show up with all of LIAL for Black Lives Matter protests, for disability rights protests, for climate activism protests. And I want those people to come to our own events.
This book inspires me to be better and to keep fighting. Hearing their stories helps me write my own.
The interview with Barbara Smith highlighted the importance of intersectionality, identity politics (and the origin of the phrase!), and coalitions which seemed to be a theme throughout the series of interviews. Working together is essential to making each organizations' fights easier because one would have so many more people on one's side.
The perspective of pre-Roe v. Wade was also necessary because obviously we now live in a post Roe v. Wade country--the differences from now and then are minimalized and it accentuates the similarities. The fights that are still going on for bodily autonomy and reproductive freedoms, as well as fights against sterilization, genocide, and colonialism.
On the future of organizing and rebellion: We need to be able to not only organize, but show we can govern. Not gentle capitalism, nor neoliberalism. But something else. I say anarchism, some say socialism and communism or Marxism. Something needs to change and we need to be willing to be that change.
I found it incredibly inspiring reading this book. Activism is a job, it's work that needs to be continually done. It needs to be recognized and supported. I want to do this work for queer and trans people, but that work cannot ONLY be done for QT people, it also needs to recognize the intersection of oppression. Working alongside other organizations is how we can do that.
I think being too broad as an organization can potentially be detrimental. Many organizations, working as committees almost, who focus on their specific field and show up for each other is an ideal I think. I want to show up with all of LIAL for Black Lives Matter protests, for disability rights protests, for climate activism protests. And I want those people to come to our own events.
This book inspires me to be better and to keep fighting. Hearing their stories helps me write my own.