How we get free
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"In the last several years, Black feminism has reemerged as the analytical framework for the activist response to the oppression of trans women of color, the fight for reproductive rights, and, of course, the movement against police abuse and violence. The most visible organizations and activists connected to the Black Lives Matter movement speak openly about how Black feminism shapes their politics and strategies today. The interviews I have compiled in this book--with the three authors of the Combahee River Collective Statement, Barbara Smith, Beverly Smith, and Demita Frazier, #BlackLivesMatter cofounder Alicia Garza, and historian and activist Barbara Ransby--are an attempt to show how these politics remain historically vibrant and relevant to the struggles of today. As Demita Frazier says, the point of talking about Combahee is not to be nostalgic; rather, we talk about it because Black women are still not free"--
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I just loved everything about this. Taylor's approach to this history (and present importance) of the Combahee River Collective through interviews with its founding members as well as Alicia Garza & Barbara Ransby was just such a powerful way to usher readers into the issues they raised and fought for that are just as critical now as they were then. I realized I really didn't have good context for understanding how closely Black and socialist feminism were aligned at the time, and how deeply other progressives (ahem White feminism ahem) failed in recognizing the full potential and necessity of coalition building. The interviews were a fantastic medium for getting a really powerful blend of theory, advocacy, and personal history, and there is so much wisdom in this little book. I would strongly recommend this for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of why Black feminism and intersectionality matter for us all.
