How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective
Gurinder Purewal
Introduction
Expressed by a group of Black feminists active in their advocacy since 1974, the Combahee River Collective Statement serves as a primary work for Black feminist thought. This work reflects an investment in both identifying and challenging deep-rooted systems of oppression, which involve racial, economic, and sexual injustice. The statement emphasizes the intermingling of both political and personal realities as an example of how Black feminist politics arose from the intersectional lived experiences and collective hardships of the community (Taylor 2017a).
As you make your way through the reading, pay attention to some of the prominent themes:
- Genesis of Black feminism
- Core beliefs
- Challenges in organizing
- Black feminist thought: issues and practices
Reading
Below are text and audio options for the assigned reading. The audio version has been provided to allow students to find which style of learning suits them best. An audio version of a text can help enhance the experience of the assigned reading while also providing a more inclusive method for students to engage with the study materials.
Access the reading on the Internet Archive: How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective, edited by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor (2017a)
Alternative audio reading source: “How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective,” read by Audio Anarchy (Taylor 2017b):
- 00:02:03: Commentary Ends/Taylor’s Introductory Essay
- 00:34:13: The Combahee River Collective Statement
- Find more audio resources on Audio Anarchy’s Patreon and SoundCloud
Other ways to access the full version of the reading:
- Purchase Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor’s book from Haymarket Books: How We Get Free
- Access full audiobook on Audible: How We Get Free Audiobook
Discussion Questions
Mobilization
The reading discusses key challenges that are faced by Black feminists and scholars in terms of terms of organizing and mobilizing themselves to be visible for advocacy.
- What are some of the issues mentioned in the text that create challenges for organizing?
Philosophical Influences
- What types of issues, types of philosophical thought, or influential thinkers are mentioned in the reading? Where were the origins of Black feminist thought?
Bibliography
Taylor, Keeanga-Yamahtta, ed. 2017a. How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective. Chicago, IL: Haymarket Books. https://archive.org/embed/keeanga-yamahtta-taylor-ed.-how-we-get-free-black-feminism-and-the-combahee-rive.
Taylor, Keeanga-Yamahtta, ed. 2017b. “How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective, 1: Introduction and Statement.” Read by Audio Anarchy. Recorded reading, January 19. YouTube, 1:09:14. https://youtu.be/8kH7iYjB2BQ?si=9hx5vlgR3xJOgJIA.
How to Cite This Page
Purewal, Gurinder. 2024. “How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective.” In Great Thinkers, edited by Gurinder Purewal and Jenna Woodrow. Kamloops, BC: TRU Open Press. https://greatthinkers.pressbooks.tru.ca/chapter/black-feminism-and-the-combahee-river-collective/.
