Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, an associate professor of African-American Studies at Princeton and author, dives deep into the evolution of identity politics originating from the Combahee River Collective. She discusses its transformation from a tool for inclusion to one often seen as divisive. Taylor connects capitalism to systemic racism and critiques policing as a response to societal inequalities. She reflects on the political landscape shaped by Obama's presidency and the unexpected rise of Trump, emphasizing grassroots movements as crucial for true change.
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insights INSIGHT
Origin of Identity Politics
The term "identity politics" originated in the 1977 Combahee River Collective Statement.
It was meant to capture the political experiences of Black women and explain their radicalization.
insights INSIGHT
Identity Politics and Black Women
Identity shapes political ideas for everyone, but the Combahee River Collective focused on Black women's experiences.
They felt excluded by white-led anti-war, feminist, and Black nationalist movements.
insights INSIGHT
Shifting Meaning of Identity Politics
"Identity politics" was initially inclusive, aiming for solidarity among different identities.
It became exclusive due to changing political context and academic focus in the 1980s.
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How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective
How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
This book, edited by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Combahee River Collective Statement. It includes interviews with founding members and explores the Collective's influence on modern Black feminist movements and activism. The book emphasizes the importance of centering marginalized communities in liberation work and discusses the ongoing relevance of the Combahee River Collective's vision for a more equitable society.
The Collected Works of John Wieners
The Collected Works of John Wieners
John Wieners
Women, Race & Class
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Black reconstruction
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Published in 1935, 'Black Reconstruction in America' challenges the dominant views of the time by portraying the Reconstruction period as a critical time of Black advancement and a near-revolution of anti-racism and societal change. Du Bois argues that African Americans were active agents of their emancipation and that the period was a second American revolution aimed at democratizing the South. The book critiques traditional historians' views and highlights the significance of African American agency in building U.S. democracy, despite the ultimate failure of Reconstruction and the rise of Jim Crow laws[3][4][5].
How to Change
The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
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In this ground-breaking book, Katy Milkman reveals a proven path to help readers move from where they are to where they want to be. Drawing on her original research and the work of her world-renowned scientific collaborators, Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. The book offers innovative approaches like 'temptation bundling,' using timely reminders, and creating 'set-it-and-forget-it systems' to make change more achievable. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to specific roadblocks and using science to stack the deck in favor of successful change.
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor is an associate professor of African-American Studies at Princeton University and the author of multiple books, including most recently How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective, which traces the origins of the term “identity politics” back to its very first use.
“Since 1977,” she writes, “that term has been used, abused, and reconfigured into something foreign to its creators.” Taylor’s intellectual history is driven by more than curiosity: it’s part of a larger vision that views racism and our contemporary economic system as inextricably linked.
This is a conversation full of tough questions. What constitutes identity politics? When is it inclusive, and when is it exclusive? Is racism a function of capitalism or is it constant across economic systems? How did Barack Obama’s presidency lead to Donald Trump’s? What can stop future Democrats from running into the very same institutional strongholds that plagued Obama?
The Gray Area with Sean Illing 
