By Sharanya Gopinathan
Feminist scholars have often talked about how important the oral tradition is to women. Historically, it has been one of the most powerful methods of sharing knowledge between women, and women’s oral histories are amongst our most precious resources in understanding why we are the way we are, and in finding inspiration on who and how we want to be.
A wonderful new project highlights how important and powerful this resource conversation can be for women and feminists, and tries to carry that tradition into the digital age. The project is honestly so lovely it makes my heart feel warm and a bit extra-full. Feminist Freedom Warriors is a new “digital video archive documenting cross-generational conversations about justice, politics and hope with feminist scholar-activists”. It basically features renown academician and author of Under Western Eyes, Chandra Talpade Mohanty, and Linda Carry in conversation with women activists about various subjects. In this project, expect cross-generational histories of feminist activism that address economic, anti-racist, social justice, and anti-capitalist issues across borders.
It’s just as beautiful and exciting as it sounds. Amongst the wonderful women interviewed so far are Angela Davis (a longtime revolutionary, activist, organizer, writer, teacher and scholar), Amina Mama (Nigerian/British activist, researcher and scholar), Flavia Agnes (women’s rights lawyer) and Angela Robertson (an activist working with black, women’s and LGBTQ communities). The conversations cover everything from the women, their lives, careers and beliefs, to their thoughts on the differences between the feminist movement when they were young as compared to what it is now, how their work relates to women of other countries and cultures and how to keep fighting the good fight.
Delightfully, some of the interviews seem to be happening in the women’s homes, and really, it takes a greater woman than me to pass up the opportunity to peep at Angela Davis’ living room art work and the things Amina Mama keeps on her mantelpiece.