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by Dean Spade. It explores the power of grassroots trans activism to drive change beyond just legal reform/inclusion. It’s fascinating (and frustrating) to learn about the administrative violence that impacts trans people — and everyone — every day. As simple as it is to say “trans rights!” the author challenges this focus.
Apr 1, 2024
Related Recs
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i see you are reading machiavelli and i expect others can/will recommend you other classical political theory so i will recommend a mix of things that are not! those works can be useful but definitely should be read alongside a variety of other voices and perspectives
books:
- A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn - solid history book that intentionally avoids the nationalist lens in mainstream depictions of US history
- Our History Has Always Been Contraband ed. by Colin Kaepernick, Robin D. G. Kelley, and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor - great intro to Black social & political thought and the history of Black Studies
- Normal Life by Dean Spade - very dense, a critique of the gay rights movement by a trans lawyer
- Mutual Aid by Dean Spade & The Care Manifesto by The Care Collective - accessible, short books that criticize contemporary social services and div of labor in care work
- Elite Capture by Olúfémi O Táíwò - critique of identity politics
- Transgender History by Susan Stryker - very accessible book on the history of trans politics and culture
- The Souls of Black Folk by WEB Du Bois - foundational text for critical race theory
a few books on my tbr list i see freq recommended that you may find useful:
- A People’s Guide to Capitalism by Hadas Thier - more accessible than Marx etc
- Abolition. Feminism. Now. by Angela Davis, Gina Dent et al. - the overlap of feminism and prison abolition
- The Case for Open Borders by John Washington - self-explanatory
- An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz - self-explanatory
- The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan - of its time but foundational 2nd wave feminist text
- The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein - self-explanatory
- Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics by Marc Lamont Hill and Mitchell Plitnick - criticism of progressive left-wing politics inability to be consistent on Palestine
some other misc media:
- Democracy Now news station/podcast - far better than most mainstream media IMO
- 5-4 podcast - fun, accessible critical analyses of supreme court cases
- Southlake podcast - case study on modern right-wing school board politics in the US
- Amended podcast (i have not finished yet) - more nuanced history of women’s fight for equality
- The 1619 Project essay collection - uses a critical lens to analyze American historical figures and events
- Working Class History & Making Gay History podcasts - self-explanatory
- 13th documentary dir. by Ava DuVernay - looks at the US prison system and the central role of racism in its construction/maintenance
- Crip Camp documentary dir by James LeBrecht and Nicole Newnhan - follows part of the disability rights movement
Jun 17, 2024
socialism and the fight for trans liberation- Laura Mills
Im really enjoying, it focuses on alot of things in the UK but also talks about in historical and indigenous identities. it also touches on misogyny and how thats connected to it.
5d ago
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Read this book!!!
“ ‘You have to give people who are new to this movement and to activism in general some way in.’ For some people, that’s going to a protest, or seeing a documentary, or reading a book, that gets them thinking, ‘Maybe I can do something.’ And so no, I don’t believe one person’s vote amounts to shit. But it can get people in the mindset of recognizing they can fight back against the Powers That Be in some way.”
Feb 10, 2024
Top Recs from @leen
This is a spiritual experience for me
Jan 27, 2024
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It’s the sixth love language
May 15, 2024
I’ve tested this rec over many lovely months and feel very confident making it. :)
Feb 14, 2025