Social Change and Intersectional Activism: The Spirit of Social Movement (The Politics of Intersectionality)

In oral histories of "intersectional activism" - activism that focuses on people whose lives are affected by more than one structure of oppression or form of discrimination (racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, etc.) - narratives of love, faith, and joy drive, guide, and sustain the practice of social change. Reading these texts in relation to feminist, queer, and race theory and Buddhist philosophy, this book argues that an understanding of spirit is critical to explaining the power that social movements have to change hearts, minds, and social structures. By highlighting spirit, it calls attention to the feelings behind social justice work and the spiritual power that gives progressive activism its moral force. "Social Change and Intersectional Activism: The Spirit of Social Movement finds in oral histories of "intersectional activism" - activism that focuses on people who face multiple forms of oppression or discrimination (racism, classism, sexism, etc.) - narratives of love, faith, and joy that drive, guide, and sustain the practice of social change. Reading these texts in relation to feminist, queer, and race theory and Buddhist philosophy, it argues that an understanding of spirit is crucial to explaining the power that social movements have to change hearts, minds, and social structures and to understanding the ways in which leaders of social change organizations influence others. By highlighting often-neglected elements of antiracist feminism as articulated by influential theorists and enacted by contemporary activists, it contributes to scholarship in several disciplines, including gender and women's studies, ethnic studies, LGBTQ studies, and social movement theory. Focusing on the best of what activists do, this project draws from their stories lessons and reminders about the pleasures and wonders of social change and the power of kindness and principled action in the face of injustice"--Provided by publisher "Social Change and Intersectional Activism: The Spirit of Social Movement finds in oral histories of "intersectional activism"--Activism that focuses on people who face multiple forms of oppression or discrimination (racism, classism, sexism, etc.) - narratives of love, faith, and joy that drive, guide, and sustain the practice of social change. Reading these texts in relation to feminist, queer, and race theory and Buddhist philosophy, it argues that an understanding of spirit is crucial to explaining the power that social movements have to change hearts, minds, and social structures and to understanding the ways in which leaders of social change organizations influence others. By highlighting often-neglected elements of antiracist feminism as articulated by influential theorists and enacted by contemporary activists, it contributes to scholarship in several disciplines, including gender and women's studies, ethnic studies, LGBTQ studies, and social movement theory. Focusing on the best of what activists do, this project draws from their stories lessons and reminders about the pleasures and wonders of social change and the power of kindness and principled action in the face of injustice" -- Provided by publisher Reading texts in relation to feminist, queer, and race theory and Buddhist philosophy, this book argues that an understanding of spirit is critical to explaining the power that social movements have to change hearts, minds, and social structures. In oral histories of "intersectional activism"--Activism that focuses on people whose lives are affected by more than one structure of oppression or form of discrimination (racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, etc.) - narratives of love, faith, and joy drive, guide, and sustain the practice of social change. Reading these texts in relation to feminist, queer, and race theory and Buddhist philosophy, this book argues that an understanding of spirit is critical to explaining the power that social movements have to change hearts, minds, and social structures. By highlighting spirit, it calls attention to the feelings behind social justice work and the spiritual power that gives progressive activism its moral force Cover 1 Half-Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Series Editors’ Introduction 10 A Word about Social Change and Intersectional Activism 14 Acknowledgments 16 Introduction 19 1 Loving Criticism: A Spiritual Philosophy of Social Change 39 2 Love: Activist Motivations 66 3 Faith: Connecting Activist Beliefs and Methods 100 4 Joy: Activist Pleasures 136 Conclusion 170 Appendix I: Methodology 174 Appendix II: Narrator Biographical Summaries 188 Notes 199 Bibliography 256 Index 277