A review by gabsalott13
The Combahee River Collective Statement: Black Feminist Organizing In The Seventies and Eighties by Combahee River Collective
5.0
Read for book club as a chapter of [b:How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective|34381451|How We Get Free Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective|Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505845858l/34381451._SY75_.jpg|55469820]. I wanted to review the statement separately, because it’s just that great. The statement’s timeliness is really a testament to the authors, as few pieces from this time hold up so well today as a guiding document for many Black non-men (including, but not limited to, Black women.)
I was shocked by how precisely the Combahee River Collective predicted the neoliberal shift towards Black tokenism as a false measure of progress. They were able to critique this trend as it unfolded before their eyes, and offer a clear path for grounding Black feminist theory and practice in the lived experiences of Black women on the margins. This is, to my understanding, the true meaning of identity politics—that your experiences as a marginalized group can be a source of radicalization, and that these experiences can lead you to a certain political analysis about how to work with others towards your liberation. What a powerful and misappropriated concept!!
The statement’s expansive view of Black feminism requires not just a commitment to ending racism and sexism, but also views the path to liberation as one that will require the end of all interlocking systems that oppress Black women. This means the Combahee River Collective’s definition of Black feminism necessitates anti-capitalism, international solidarity, and a commitment to action. In short, this is an extremely helpful roadmap and spot check as I continue to develop my politics. I look forward to returning to this often.
P.S. Here is a recorded discussion from the Noname Book Club that I think does a great job of illustrating the modern power of the statement: https://youtu.be/zR4sSjmE8bk.
I was shocked by how precisely the Combahee River Collective predicted the neoliberal shift towards Black tokenism as a false measure of progress. They were able to critique this trend as it unfolded before their eyes, and offer a clear path for grounding Black feminist theory and practice in the lived experiences of Black women on the margins. This is, to my understanding, the true meaning of identity politics—that your experiences as a marginalized group can be a source of radicalization, and that these experiences can lead you to a certain political analysis about how to work with others towards your liberation. What a powerful and misappropriated concept!!
The statement’s expansive view of Black feminism requires not just a commitment to ending racism and sexism, but also views the path to liberation as one that will require the end of all interlocking systems that oppress Black women. This means the Combahee River Collective’s definition of Black feminism necessitates anti-capitalism, international solidarity, and a commitment to action. In short, this is an extremely helpful roadmap and spot check as I continue to develop my politics. I look forward to returning to this often.
P.S. Here is a recorded discussion from the Noname Book Club that I think does a great job of illustrating the modern power of the statement: https://youtu.be/zR4sSjmE8bk.