In Feminism in Coalition Liza Taylor examines how US women of color feminists' coalitional politics provides an indispensable resource to contemporary political theory, feminist studies, and intersectional social justice activism. Taylor charts the theorization of coalition in the work of Bernice Johnson Reagon, Audre Lorde, Barbara Smith, the Combahee River Collective, Gloria Anzaldua, Cherrie Moraga, and others. For these activist-scholars, coalition is a dangerous struggle that emerges from a shared political commitment to undermining oppression and an emphasis on self-transformation. Taylor shows how their coalitional understandings of group politics, identity, consciousness, and scholarship have transformed how activists and theorists build alliances across race, class, gender, sexuality, faith, and ethnicity to tackle systems of domination. Their coalitional politics enrich current discussions surrounding the impetus and longevity of effective activism, present robust theoretical accounts of political subject formation and political consciousness, and demonstrate the promise of collective modes of scholarship. In this way, women of color feminists have been formulating solutions to long-standing problems in political theory. By illustrating coalition's vitality to a variety of practical and philosophical interdisciplinary discussions, Taylor encourages us to rethink feminist and political theory.

About the Author
Liza Taylor is Assistant Professor of Political Science at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Reviews
"This well-written and clearly organized book challenges the reader to explore effective activism over time with directions for the future. Thus, the book would be ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses in sociology, women's studies, and criminal justice that include contemporary political theory, feminist studies, and intersectional social justice. The 'call to action' structure of the book creates a platform for the facilitator to really engage the student in the option of taking an actual step to make change within the current politically diverse arena. Exercises such as this makes the book unique within this discipline and a must have within the classroom." -- Shauntey James * Ethnic and Racial Studies *
"Taylor is a feminist political theorist who offers sophisticated arguments about philosophical principles and feminist practices together with an accessible discussion of core texts from women of color. She writes for multidisciplinary feminist readers already familiar with classics such as position papers from the Combahee River Collective and essays by Audre Lorde but does so with sufficient attention to explaining these and other arguments from the rich field of feminist theorizing. Students just becoming aware of this area of study will get a vibrant introduction, and more knowledgeable readers will find this an innovative and helpful approach. . . . Highly recommended. General readers through faculty; professionals." -- M. M. Ferree * Choice *



Book Information
ISBN 9781478019152
Author Liza Taylor
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint Duke University Press
Publisher Duke University Press
Weight(grams) 431g