Jun 16, 2023
Gloria Anzaldúa is best known for creating two of the foundational texts of U.S. women-of-color feminisms: This Bridge Called My Back in 1981 (co-edited with Cherríe Moraga) and Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza in 1987.
But the scope of Anzaldua's body of work is much longer and larger than these two pivotal texts, too. In this interview, Dr. Kimberly George speaks with Dr. AnaLouise Keating, a professor of Multicultural Women's and Gender Studies and the premier scholar of Anzaldúa body of work and archives.
Dr. Keating talks about her friendship and collaborations with Gloria. She also discusses key themes in Anzaldúa's life and work including: her concept of spiritual activism; her understanding of the interconnection of all life; her challenge to identity categories; the effects of her diabetes; and her struggles with depression and perfectionism in her writing process.
Dr. Keating is herself prolific, with her most recent book being The Anzaldúan Theory Handbook, released by Duke University Press in October of 2022.
This episode is for you if:
- You are interested in learning the histories of women-of-color feminism or
- Intrigued by the concept of spiritual activism or
- Want to consider the uses and limits of our contemporary identity politics categories or
- Want to hear reflections on how depression can be entangled with perfectionism
The show's host, Dr. Kimberly B. George, holds a PhD in Ethnic Studies, an MA in Religious History, and further graduate training in psychodynamic psychotherapy. She is a writer, a feminist writing teacher, a scholar, and a consultant to organizations seeking bespoke feminist professional education programs for their leaders. Contact her at www.KimberlyBGeorge.com.
The show's community supported Patreon can be found at: https://www.patreon.com/DrKimberlyGeorge/membership
COVER ART by Nancy Guerrera
CREATIVE CONSULTING by Andrew Medlin
MUSIC by Siobhán Shiels
*With special thanks to April Freeman, Susan Crampton Davis, and Nancy Guerrera, whose initial founding sponsorships made this show possible.