DOC Frontiers of Freedom: Cincinnati’s Black Community 1802–1868 (Law Society Politics in the Midwest) by Nikki M. Taylor in History

Description

The first in-depth analysis of the black feminist movement; Living for the Revolution fills in a crucial but overlooked chapter in African American; women’s; and social movement history. Through original oral history interviews with key activists and analysis of previously unexamined organizational records; Kimberly Springer traces the emergence; life; and decline of several black feminist organizations: the Third World Women’s Alliance; Black Women Organized for Action; the National Black Feminist Organization; the National Alliance of Black Feminists; and the Combahee River Collective. The first of these to form was founded in 1968; all five were defunct by 1980. Springer demonstrates that these organizations led the way in articulating an activist vision formed by the intersections of race; gender; class; and sexuality.The organizations that Springer examines were the first to explicitly use feminist theory to further the work of previous black women’s organizations. As she describes; they emerged in response to marginalization in the civil rights and women’s movements; stereotyping in popular culture; and misrepresentation in public policy. Springer compares the organizations’ ideologies; goals; activities; memberships; leadership styles; finances; and communication strategies. Reflecting on the conflicts; lack of resources; and burnout that led to the demise of these groups; she considers the future of black feminist organizing; particularly at the national level. Living for the Revolution is an essential reference: it provides the history of a movement that influenced black feminist theory and civil rights activism for decades to come.