What I am Reading Now…
Dr Francesca Sobande
August 2020

I am grateful for the work of Black women, feminists, and activists which has significantly shaped my thinking and writing, including my understanding of nuanced issues concerning anti-Blackness, intersecting oppressions, and harmful notions of “citizenship”.

The creativity and candour of Black feminists has helped me to learn about the lives and experiences of Black people in different parts of the world, and how such individuals are collectively organising to tackle interconnected anti-Blackness, sexism, misogyny, classism, colourism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and other interrelated forms of oppression.

I find radical hope through the words and work of Black women, feminists, and activists who emphasise the liberatory and joyous potential of collective action, care, and creatively (re)imagining what the future can be. Black feminism is vital—from writing found on the pages of zines, papers, and books, to political messages communicated through visual, sonic, and media creations. However, the determined efforts and continued work of Black feminists should not be fetishised in ways that result in people demanding their work, labour, and time in fundamentally exploitative and oppressive ways.

The work of writers, activists, creatives, and scholars such as Beverley Bryan, Stella Dadzie, Suzanne Scafe, Akwugo Emejulu, Azeezat Johnson, Olive Gallimore, Gail Lewis, Melba Wilson, and Ama Ata Aidoo has been influential in my life and the direction of my work. Therefore, five texts that I highly recommend reading are: