What's radical love got to do with it?
Yes, this is a bell hooks stan post.
If you’re a woman (especially a young woman of colour) working for credibility in civil society, the conversation of love is never on the agenda. In fact, it almost feels embarrassing to talk about it. Why is that?
The past few years (emphasis on the catastrophe that was 2020), have been extremely hard on dreamers and activists alike. In progressive spaces, there still exists much division and othering fueled by white supremacy and patriarchy -- regardless of our collective work toward a more just and equitable world.
In 2020 we saw and felt collective grief and despair for our neighbours, our wildlife and our planet– for our loss of innocence and sense of security. Yet we responded by showing up for our communities with compassion, generosity and love.
So when I talk about love, I’m talking about precisely that. Love as an action, a verb, and a commitment. Cue in bell hooks.
Scholar and activist bell hooks is well known for making feminist theory accessible to all. Her books are written in a way that is conversational to help us each understand our role in upholding a patriarchal capitalist world. As she always says “patriarchy has no gender.”
Last year I finally got around to reading "All About Love: New Visions," a hooks' classic published in '99 -- yet still holds very true to the present day. Before this, I hadn't read literature that spoke about love from a feminist lens and in such a direct and intentional way. Hooks says that love is a combination of six ingredients: care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect, and trust. She believes that love is a foundation for social justice. And I agree with her.
Radical love has the power to bridge and connect all of our social movements. If we all start with a political conversation about love for people and the planet, we are going in the right direction. A direction that redefines progress and success. One that pushes us to be collectively better.
It’s time to mainstream radical love into our politics and how we communicate.
Centering love that is active, powerful, & embracing in our activism and storytelling is so important. Of course, this applies to how we use and carry out our digital communications. With the #Covid19 climate, this is our #1 way to reach people.
And love takes many forms...
Love is amplifying underrepresented voices and knowledge as expertise. Love is bringing people together and creating safe digital spaces to be our authentic selves. Love is using words and explaining ideas in a way that is clear, concise and accessible.
So to answer the question "what's radical love got to do with it?" It's got to do with everything. As Toronto-based artist & activist Syrus Marcus Ware so eloquently puts it: "I love you. I love my people. We don't leave anyone behind. We fight like hell to get free. To save all of us -- every living being on the planet -- from white supremacy and anti-Blackness.. for if we dismantled those violences we would literally ALL be free. Including the planet."
P.S. Definitely check out this awesome Instagram page that captions Saved by the Bell scenes with hooks' writing. Genius.