Description
Book SynopsisA study of Black feminist activism and organizations that challenges the prevailing academic and popular assumption that Black women have avoided feminist political ideology as irrelevant to their lives and the liberation of Black communities.
Trade Review“
Living for the Revolution is a fabulous book with rich data and fine analysis. To date, nothing has been written that fills this particular historical vacuum. African American women’s participation in the feminist movement has only been told from the point of view of white feminists or in bits and pieces by others.”—Belinda Robnett, author of
How Long? How Long? African-American Women in the Struggle for Civil Rights“
Living for the Revolution will force scholars working on either the women’s movement or black liberation to change their standard narrative.”—Robin D. G. Kelley, author of
Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination“Springer’s discussion of the activities of the next generation . . . helps keep hope alive and the political fires burning. But the difficulties facing formal black feminist organizing need close scrutiny of new organization are ever to spring up and thrive. We must understand the whys and how s of their predecessors’ demise as well as of their growth and legacy. This book makes an exhilarating contribution to this process.” -- Tricia Rose * Women's Review of Books *
“The arrival of Kimberly Springer's
Living for the Revolution: Black Feminist Organizations, 1968-1980 invites scholars to include gender and women activists in their discussions of the African-American political landscape between the Second Reconstruction and the Reagan revolution. Though speaking more explicitly to feminist historiography and organizational theory, Springer's study of five prominent Black feminist organizations signals a turn in our academic approach to the liberation struggle.” -- Elizabeth Hinton * Souls *
Table of ContentsOrganizational Abbreviations vii
Acknowledgments ix
1. The Soul of Women's Lib 1
2. No longer Divided against Ourselves 45
3. Barbecue and Bake Sales Won't Fund a Movement 65
4. Black Women's Issues as Feminist Issues 88
5. Black Feminist Identities in Contestation 113
6. War-Weary Warriors 139
Conclusion 168
Epilogue 173
Appendix A: Interviews by Organization 181
Appendix B: Interview Questions 183
Appendix C: Statements of Purpose 185
Notes 191
Index 217
