The Truth That Never Hurts: Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom (Lesbian & Gay Studies)
by Barbara Smith

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Book Reviews of The Truth That Never Hurts: Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom (Lesbian & Gay Studies)

Book Review: Thoughtful introduction to radical political action
Summary: 3 Stars

The best political organizing is not done for material or financial gratification, it is done for the betterment of all segments in the same society.

But it simmultaneously attacks it's own strong points through oversimplification of the facts regarding queer organizing in the late 20th and early 21st century.I feel that she is too quick to dismiss the contributions of groups such as HRC to the public policy table in favor of a romanticized version of policy making where radicals are the only ones doing any type of work to stop prejudice.

The HRC has attained and sustained numerous criticisms from people who believe the group's policies are a form of "sanitized" politics: because the group tends to court the more moderate politicians, it constructs a narrow context of gay rights suggesting that GLBT Americans are no different from their straight counterparts and can fit into the existing structures of society, only if they are allowed to.

In the fall of 2001, I worked on a local campaign that sought to halt passage of a ballot initiative prohibiting the Houston City council from even considering the offering of domestic partner benefits to GLBT municipal employees. The group I was with was a multicultural coalition of activists whose strategizing embraced the very radicalism Smith claims will bring true change.

Furthermore, HRC sent their representatives down to follow the agenda that we had already confirmed-although I realize much of the strategies and tactics differed from what they would have done in a similar situation without an existing radical coalition.

Even though I am personally more in line with Smith's idelogy, I also recognize that moderate civil rights groups provide a stepping stone for people new to political organizing---those who remain content with the level of analysis will stay with the organization, whereas the more politically assertive will look for other organizations who can fulfill their needs and address their issues in an appropriate manner as they begin to make deeper connections between their lot in life and the very structure of society itself.

Summary of The Truth That Never Hurts: Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom (Lesbian & Gay Studies)

History Books

• Gay & Lesbian
• Nonfiction > Civil Rights
• History > Americas > United States
• Literature & Fiction > World Literature > United States > History & Criticism > African American
• General
• Women
• Nonfiction > Social Sciences
• Sociology > Race Relations > America
• General
• General
• Special Groups > African-American Studies
• Lesbian Studies
• General
• Women's Studies > General