Want to Better Understand Socialism? New York Magazine recommends The Meaning of Freedom
What is the meaning of freedom? Angela Y. Davis' life and work have been dedicated to examining this fundamental question and to ending all forms of oppression that deny people their political, cultural, and sexual freedom. In this collection of twelve searing, previously unpublished speeches, Davis confronts the interconnected issues of power, race, gender, class, incarceration, conservatism, and the ongoing need for social change in the United States. With her characteristic brilliance, historical insight, and penetrating analysis, Davis addresses examples of institutional injustice and explores the radical notion of freedom as a collective striving for real democracy - not something granted or guaranteed through laws, proclamations, or policies, but something that grows from a participatory social process that demands new ways of thinking and being. "The speeches gathered together here are timely and timeless," writes Robin D.G. Kelley in the foreword, "they embody Angela Davis' uniquely radical vision of the society we need to build, and the path to get there."
The Meaning of Freedom articulates a bold vision of the society we need to build and the path to get there. This is her only book of speeches.
"Davis' arguments for justice are formidable. . . . The power of her historical insights and the sweetness of her dream cannot be denied."—The New York Times
"One of America's last truly fearless public intellectuals." —Cynthia McKinney, former US Congresswoman
"Angela Davis deserves credit, not just for the dignity and courage with which she has lived her life, but also for raising important critiques of a for-profit penitentiary system decades before those arguments gained purchase in the mainstream." —Thomas Chatterton Williams, SFGate
"Angela Davis's revolutionary spirit is still strong. Still with us, thank goodness!"
—Virginian-Pilot
"Long before 'race/gender' became the obligatory injunction it is now, Angela Davis was developing an analytical framework that brought all of these factors into play. For readers who only see Angela Davis as a public icon . . . meet the real Angela Davis: perhaps the leading public intellectual of our era." —Robin D. G. Kelley author of Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original
"There was a time in America when to call a person an 'abolitionist' was the ultimate epithet. It evoked scorn in the North and outrage in the South. Yet they were the harbingers of things to come. They were on the right side of history. Prof. Angela Y. Davis stands in that proud, radical tradition." —Mumia Abu-Jamal, author of Jailhouse Lawyers: Prisoners Defending Prisoners v. the U.S.A.
"Behold the heart and mind of Angela Davis, open, relentless, and on time!" —June Jordan
Reviews (24)
Informative Read
Bought to read before attending a speech by Angela Davis. Compilation of speeches she has given. Very good representation of a range of issues over several years. I felt I had a pretty good background in issues of the era when I went to hear the talk.
Food For Thought:
Angela Davis' book "The Meaning of Freedom" is a collection of speeches/jeremiads that span the last twenty years of her career as a leftwing civil rights activist. The book is compelling, intellectually provocative, and emphatically charged insofar as social injustice is concerned. Davis is fearless when it comes to raising the issue of civil rights for all people of different races, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and let's not forget felons. Davis believes the American dream should be a reality that everyone should have access to. Unfortunately, they don't. In most States, the LGBT community still doesn't have the legal right to marriage. Also, felons are relegated to second class status for the rest of their lives, permanently losing the right to vote, all the while, legally being denied work and not being able to apply for social programs in order to get back on their feet. The Clinton Crime Bill is a prime example of this apartheid behavior toward felons in the United States. As a matter of fact "racism plays a major role in determining who is subject to state punishment and who is not!" The reasons why are staggering as Davis points out during the 2000 election in Florida. Overall, 950,000 former felons reside there and if they were given the right to vote, its plain to see that Al Gore would have been elected president of the United States. The real objective insofar as eradicating the civil rights of the incarcerated is to maintain a form of hegemonic despotism in the auspices of a pseudo-democracy, which the Ultra-Right would control. "The Meaning of Freedom" as a whole is a relevant book to read considering the Supreme Court ruled that section V of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional, which is now leading to the disenfranchisement of minority voters across the country. North Carolina is leading the charges into this reactionary recidivism, a form of constitutional malfeasance. The Trayvon Martin case is another prime example of apartheid in the U.S. with the Stand Your Ground Laws that are being promoted throughout the country and the fact that George Zimmerman was allowed to get away with murder has created a disquieting situation and has set American race relations back nearly sixty years. Davis' main argument is that the system is stacked in favor of the Neoliberals in power and it is up to the American people to find common ground in order to fix this insalubrious situation that has metastasized into an unconstitutional draconian quagmire that can't remain upright for long. Sooner or later our system of governance will discombobulate if we don't recognize the rights of all people around the world, and that this country needs socialistic programs in place in order to allow its people a chance to achieve the American dream. Davis also points out, "In today's era of Global capitalism, resistance to racism can only be effective if it is anchored in global communities of struggle. Our challenge today is to build secure bridges that link anti-racist movements, prison abolitionist campaigns, and immigrant rights movements." Believe me when I tell you, you won't agree with everything she says in this series of speeches. Angela Davis is as far left as it gets and many of her ideas seem pragmatic at first glance. Whether or not her ideas are viable is left up to the reader. As for me, I believe most of her ideas are the only solution to today's problems and concerns. Other books that correlate to this one are as follows: Howard Zinn: "Passionate Declarations" Douglas S. Massey and Nancy Denton: "American Apartheid" Al Gore: "The Assault on Reason" Michelle Alexander: "The New Jim Crow" Chris Hedges: "Empire of Illusion" Tavis Smiley and various authors: "The Covenant with Black America" Marc Ian Barasch: "The Compassionate Life"
Sugar Bear..This book is very educational to the events that surround the injustices of races of color and is informative to the extentionalist views of a system that is set for people of color to fail...I liked the fact that the author stated the facts as truths. To all young adults that want to know their history. I love the book.
Sugar Bear..This book is very educational to the events that surround the injustices of races of color and is informative to the extentionalist views of a system that is set for people of color to fail...I liked the fact that the author stated the facts as truths. To all young adults that want to know their history. I love the book.
The next generation hungers for her work
Bought as a gift for my daughter. A measure of the gift: she's reading parts out loud to her husband!
Five Stars
Great buy!
Five Stars
Great read!
America, land of the incarcerated
Angela Davis has proven to be prophetic in matters of justice, prisons, police brutality and judicial corruption.
Thinking Peoples Book
I love Angela Davis and this book confirms my affections. I needed a book to review for a college course on racism and sexism in America. Her work is for the progressive person looking for inspiration on a conceptual an obtainable future. A future where classism is chipped at, oppression is seen in all its forms and we are not slaves to capitalism.
Excellent!
Angela Davis is brilliant! This collection of speeches opened my eyes to the social and civil injustices of the prison system in America. Davis made so many things clear for me! This message is in dire need of hearing. Davis is fearless!
She really put you there with her while doing her speeches.
Great read! I recommend it.
Informative Read
Bought to read before attending a speech by Angela Davis. Compilation of speeches she has given. Very good representation of a range of issues over several years. I felt I had a pretty good background in issues of the era when I went to hear the talk.
Food For Thought:
Angela Davis' book "The Meaning of Freedom" is a collection of speeches/jeremiads that span the last twenty years of her career as a leftwing civil rights activist. The book is compelling, intellectually provocative, and emphatically charged insofar as social injustice is concerned. Davis is fearless when it comes to raising the issue of civil rights for all people of different races, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and let's not forget felons. Davis believes the American dream should be a reality that everyone should have access to. Unfortunately, they don't. In most States, the LGBT community still doesn't have the legal right to marriage. Also, felons are relegated to second class status for the rest of their lives, permanently losing the right to vote, all the while, legally being denied work and not being able to apply for social programs in order to get back on their feet. The Clinton Crime Bill is a prime example of this apartheid behavior toward felons in the United States. As a matter of fact "racism plays a major role in determining who is subject to state punishment and who is not!" The reasons why are staggering as Davis points out during the 2000 election in Florida. Overall, 950,000 former felons reside there and if they were given the right to vote, its plain to see that Al Gore would have been elected president of the United States. The real objective insofar as eradicating the civil rights of the incarcerated is to maintain a form of hegemonic despotism in the auspices of a pseudo-democracy, which the Ultra-Right would control. "The Meaning of Freedom" as a whole is a relevant book to read considering the Supreme Court ruled that section V of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional, which is now leading to the disenfranchisement of minority voters across the country. North Carolina is leading the charges into this reactionary recidivism, a form of constitutional malfeasance. The Trayvon Martin case is another prime example of apartheid in the U.S. with the Stand Your Ground Laws that are being promoted throughout the country and the fact that George Zimmerman was allowed to get away with murder has created a disquieting situation and has set American race relations back nearly sixty years. Davis' main argument is that the system is stacked in favor of the Neoliberals in power and it is up to the American people to find common ground in order to fix this insalubrious situation that has metastasized into an unconstitutional draconian quagmire that can't remain upright for long. Sooner or later our system of governance will discombobulate if we don't recognize the rights of all people around the world, and that this country needs socialistic programs in place in order to allow its people a chance to achieve the American dream. Davis also points out, "In today's era of Global capitalism, resistance to racism can only be effective if it is anchored in global communities of struggle. Our challenge today is to build secure bridges that link anti-racist movements, prison abolitionist campaigns, and immigrant rights movements." Believe me when I tell you, you won't agree with everything she says in this series of speeches. Angela Davis is as far left as it gets and many of her ideas seem pragmatic at first glance. Whether or not her ideas are viable is left up to the reader. As for me, I believe most of her ideas are the only solution to today's problems and concerns. Other books that correlate to this one are as follows: Howard Zinn: "Passionate Declarations" Douglas S. Massey and Nancy Denton: "American Apartheid" Al Gore: "The Assault on Reason" Michelle Alexander: "The New Jim Crow" Chris Hedges: "Empire of Illusion" Tavis Smiley and various authors: "The Covenant with Black America" Marc Ian Barasch: "The Compassionate Life"
Sugar Bear..This book is very educational to the events that surround the injustices of races of color and is informative to the extentionalist views of a system that is set for people of color to fail...I liked the fact that the author stated the facts as truths. To all young adults that want to know their history. I love the book.
Sugar Bear..This book is very educational to the events that surround the injustices of races of color and is informative to the extentionalist views of a system that is set for people of color to fail...I liked the fact that the author stated the facts as truths. To all young adults that want to know their history. I love the book.
The next generation hungers for her work
Bought as a gift for my daughter. A measure of the gift: she's reading parts out loud to her husband!
Five Stars
Great buy!
Five Stars
Great read!
America, land of the incarcerated
Angela Davis has proven to be prophetic in matters of justice, prisons, police brutality and judicial corruption.
Thinking Peoples Book
I love Angela Davis and this book confirms my affections. I needed a book to review for a college course on racism and sexism in America. Her work is for the progressive person looking for inspiration on a conceptual an obtainable future. A future where classism is chipped at, oppression is seen in all its forms and we are not slaves to capitalism.
Excellent!
Angela Davis is brilliant! This collection of speeches opened my eyes to the social and civil injustices of the prison system in America. Davis made so many things clear for me! This message is in dire need of hearing. Davis is fearless!
She really put you there with her while doing her speeches.
Great read! I recommend it.
Five Stars
Interesting book.
Great Read
Required book for class and so far it is very interesting and informative. Will read more books about her life.
Towards full humanity
This collection of writings by Angela Davis show not only how critical a thinker she is, but also how much hope she still has that we can create a new reality. Though she has every reason to be jaded by our justice system, she is not. Instead, what emerges from the pages of this book is a sincere desire and meaningful action for moving our country towards full humanity.
Too much truth for most ... A comforting reminder for loving souls
Our world is in desperate need of the messages in this book... Thank you Angela Y. Davis You are an Insperation to us all!
