consciousness raising

Young Lords Student Conference

1946-1989, Alternative Spaces, Consciousness Raising, Date, Disruptive Spaces, Tactics of Disruption

The Young Lords established the first National Puerto Rican Student Conference, which debuted on September 22nd at Columbia University. This event marked the first nationwide consciousness-raising event hosted by Puerto Ricans since they came to the United States. The event’s goals were to conduct workshops to teach about revolutionary Puerto Rican history and culture and preach the importance of women and high school students in the revolution. People in these workshops brainstormed specific improvements for each of their respective organizations. 

“Liberate Puerto Rico Now Committees were set up around the country to publicize the fact that Puerto Rico is a colony of the united states and is controlled economically, politically, and culturally by amerikkka. The Committees will be organizing for the October 30th action at the UN to demand independence for our homeland”

ylp-reader-draggedDownload

Creation of the Malcolm X Center for Black Youth

1946-1989, Consciousness Raising, Date, Defining the Enemy, Subjectives of Refusal, Subjects Redefined, Tactics of Disruption, White Supremacy

The Black Panther Party created the Malcolm X Center to counter drug abuse, dropout, and illiteracy rates among Black teenagers. In a specific example, one teenager was ready to join ROTC until the Center taught this man about “the relationships of the US Armed forces to Black people.” After visiting the center, the young man rejected the military services and chose to change his name to an African name. The Center served as a place for consciousness-raising for young Black folks to collectively realize their potential outside of white supremacist institutions.

The Accent on Young PeopleDownload

SDS Fire (1969)

1946-1989, Consciousness Raising, Date, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, Workers

On December 6, 1969, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) published these writings. They cover a variety of topics including revolution, military conquest, and justice. It is a deep critique of the United States in which it sentences the United States government “to death.” Additionally, it identifies other enemies such as capitalism and imperialism. Overall, they aim to destroy bourgeois consciousness and create new revolutionary ways of living.

During the 1960’s the Amerikan government was on trial for crimes against the people of the world. We now find the government guilty and sentence it to death in the streets.

fireDownload

I Am Your Sister: Black Women Organizing Across Sexualities (1985)

1946-1989, Black, Consciousness Raising, Date, Defining the Enemy, History/Theory, Patriarchy, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, Theory, White Supremacy, Women

In 1985, feminist, civil rights activist, and librarian Audre Lorde published “I Am Your Sister: Black Women Organizing Across Sexualities”. The essay was centered around organizing black women in the fight against patriarchy by uniting women of all sexualities.

I-Am-Your-Sister-Audrey-LordeDownload