CLOSER TO LIBERATION edited by AMANDA SOLOMON AMORAO, DJ KUTTIN KANDI, and JEN SORIANO

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 Reading by Eileen Tabios

CLOSER TO LIBERATION: Pin[a/x/]y Activism in Theory and Practice. Editors Amanda Solomon Amorao, DJ Kuttin Kandi, and Jen Soriano

(Cognella, 2023) 



I am conflicted over the term “cultural production” but a book like CLOSER TO LIBERATION reminds me of its need. In an ideal world, the tenets of peminism and activism would not need to be gathered for study because they already would be lived naturally. But because the world is less than ideal, its moments must also be theorized to be solidified into fierce but lovingly provided lessons. This book, this result, was/is needed. And it is also huge in scope—as huge as the world and the peminized, activist heart. 

 

It’s impossible to capture this book (even the Table of Contents is magnificent), this moment that also is expansive. I just want to express my gratitude that parts of my poetry were deemed to be relevant in its exploration and suggestions for “liberation.” To its editors and participants, I see your wounds and tears and am grateful you all rose from them for this generous gift of refusing to turn away from your beliefs of how the world (instead) should behave. From me: Love and Respect. 







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