KQED's Forum Rebecca Solnit on Approaching These Times with Hope, Imagination and Perseverance
Jun 18, 2025
Rebecca Solnit, a celebrated writer, historian, and activist known for her powerful essays, emphasizes the importance of imagination and hope in today's turbulent political climate. She discusses her recent work, urging listeners to envision a brighter future rather than succumb to despair. The conversation touches on the vital role of grassroots movements and community care, particularly through 'aunties,' and explores themes like interconnectedness and feminist resilience. Solnit also highlights the ongoing fight for reproductive rights and the need for perseverance in activism.
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Auntie Sewing Squad Story
- Rebecca Solnit joined the Auntie Sewing Squad making cloth masks for vulnerable communities during the pandemic.
- The group bonded over care and creativity, exemplifying the power of non-nuclear family roles like 'aunties'.
Power from Margins to Center
- Social change often originates in marginalized groups and spreads gradually to centers of power.
- The Supreme Court follows, rather than leads, broad social movements like marriage equality.
Isolationism vs Interconnectionism
- The current political divide is better understood as isolationist versus interconnectionist values.
- Interconnectionists recognize the connectedness of humans, nature, and systems, opposing radical individualism and nihilism.
