Black Feminist Landscapes Virtual Reading Salon
Mar 12th: The Politics of Pleasure
Most folxs quote adrienne marie brown’s Pleasure Activism, but prior AND in addition to AMB’s offering, there was Audre Lorde’s “The Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power,” and so many others, that have written on pleasure, joy, hope, and resilience.
bell hooks “All About Love: New Visions”
Toni Morrison “ The Bluest Eyes”
June Jordan “Directed By Desire: The Collected Poems of June Jordan"
Alexis Pauline Guumbs “her blog”
Writing/Reflection Prompts
Personal: Reflect on a time when you felt a deep sense of pleasure or empowerment. How did this experience challenge or affirm societal norms or expectations? How might Audre Lorde's concept of "the erotic" apply to this experience?
Literature Reflection: Select a piece of literature, film, or artwork that prominently features themes of pleasure, desire, or the erotic. How does this relate to Lorde's ideas about the transformative potential of the erotic?
Intersectionality and the Erotic: Explore the concept of intersectionality in relation to pleasure and the erotic. How do factors such as race, gender, sexuality, and class intersect in shaping individuals' experiences of pleasure and desire? How does Lorde's writing prompt us to consider these intersections?
What is the role of pleasure in activism and resistance. How might embracing pleasure as a form of empowerment challenge traditional power structures? How can Audre Lorde's ideas about the erotic inform and enrich these conversations?
Reading List
*Readings are NOT required, but helpful if you'd like a few guideposts for discussion
“Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic As Power” (PDF) Audre Lorde(1978) Length: 7 pages. Accessibility: here is the link to the audio version of the essay 23mins:25 sec in length
Goddess Amina Erotic Abolitionist IG page
Afrosexology IG page
Tia Savonne Educator IG page
Jaali Co Educator IG page
Irresistible (fka Healing Justice Podcast) Pleasure Activism: Length 1hr:16mins
Politics of Pleasure: Fact vs Feelings Applying Lorde’s essay “Uses of the Erotic” to the leaked Supreme Court opinions on Roe v Wade, this podcast talks about how our access to pleasure is linked to how the State regulates bodies. Length 1hr:53mins
What’s happening in the CONGO? IG post
What’s happening in SUDAN? IG post
Egypt built a “buffer” wall between itself and Gaza Tiktok: Length 1min:36 secs
