Ross, Loretta J.

Scope and Contents

In this oral history Barbara Smith describes her childhood in an emotionally warm and culturally rich family that valued education and race work. The interview focuses on her activism as a grassroots organizer, writer, and publisher. Smith's story details the political challenges and personal costs of being a pioneer in radical coalition politics against imperialism, racism, and sexism, and homophobia. (Transcript 109 pp.)

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This oral history offers a general overview of Martinez' life and work. Martinez reviews her childhood and her political experiences from SNCC forward. She discusses the difficulty of sustaining left groups in the face of sectarianism and government infiltration. Martinez comments on current domestic and international politics and reflects on tensions between her activism and her role as a single parent. (Transcript 70 pp.)

Scope and Contents In this oral history, Byllye Avery describes her childhood in Georgia and Florida, her marriage to Wesley Avery, and her early widowhood, which propelled her into health activism in her early 30s. The interview focuses on her work in women's organizations in the 1970s, her experiences working with white women in the beginning of the women's health movement, and her experiences in establishing the premiere black women's health organization in the U.S., the National Black Women's Health...

Scope and Contents The Calling In the Calling Out Culture conference was held at Smith College, April 2, 2016 The video includes keynote speeches by Loretta Ross and Katherine Cross; a panel discussion with Loretta, Katherine and Smith students; workshop exercises and breakout sessions; and a moderated discussion with the panel and audience. The workshops aimed to build and nurture political consciousness and student activism" for social justice. Guest speakers were Loretta Ross and Katherine Cross, feminist...

Scope and Contents In this oral history, Diallo discusses the family and spiritual sources of her commitment to activism and describes her early involvement in feminist health work. She underscores the cultural obstacles to tackling HIV/AIDS in the rural South and traces the stages in SisterLove's expanding mission. Diallo emphasizes the essential role of Self Help in her own effectiveness as a leader and offers examples of the human rights approach to HIV/AIDS which puts women's empowerment at the center of a...

Abstract Dázon Dixon Diallo is founder and president of SisterLove, Inc., established in 1989, the first women’s HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Justice organization in the southeastern United States.As a student at Spelman College, Dázon took a leading role in anti-apartheid work. After attending the First National Conference on Black Women's Health Issues at Spelman in June, 1983, she sought out community women's health work. She earned her B.A. from Spelman in 1986. From 1984 to 1989, she was a lay...

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In this oral history, Frances Beal describes her unique childhood, born of parents of refugee Jewish, African American, and Native American descent. The interview focuses on her activism in the United States and in France, including founding the Women's Committee of SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee). Beal's story captures the challenges of anti-racist, anti-fascist and anti-imperialist organizing with a gender perspective. (Transcript 54 pp.)

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In this oral history Geraldine Miller describes her life as an African American child born in the Midwest in the 1920s. As a child of incest between her mother and her mother's stepfather, Miller focuses on her struggle to lift herself out of poverty, overcome the murder of her mother, and launch her career as a national organizer of domestic workers and leading feminist with the National Organization for Women and the National Congress of Neighborhood Women. (Transcript 79 pp.)

Scope and Contents In this oral history, Sánchez describes her childhood in a close-knit extended, egalitarian working-class family, noting especially her mother's influence on her core values. She recounts her political development and activity at Yale, the difficulty of her coming out process, and her involvement in Chicano organizing projects and filmmaking. Sánchez details the development of the Esperanza Center, including the political and funding challenges of sustaining a multi-issue organization led by...

Scope and Contents In this oral history, Linda Burnham describes her childhood immersed in the black radical community of New York City in the 1950s and 1960s. It also includes a brief interview with her mother, Dorothy Burnham. Linda's interview focuses on her activism in the early abortion rights movement in Black Women United in the 1970s and the impact working with the Venceremos Brigade and traveling to Cuba had on her life. She also discusses the anti-imperialist work that led her to San Francisco in the...

Scope and Contents Foo describes a childhood in which gendered Chinese cultural norms combine with race and class discrimination to shape her emerging identity and educational options. She recounts theradicalizing effect of Asian American Studies in college and details her experiences in organizing immigrant women workers. Foo assesses the status of Asian American women’s organizations and reflects on the current state of progressive politics in the U.S. The interview concludes with a nod to the pleasure she...

Abstract Loretta J. Ross is a Reproductive Rights advocate, Civil Rights activist, feminist, women's health activist. Her papers contain speeches, writings, correspondence, organization and conference files, and audiovisual materials. The collection pertains primarily to Ross' activism for reproductive justice rights for women of color, anti-violence, international human rights work, and particularly to issues related black women's health. Other topics include abortion, women's health, teenage...

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In this lengthy interview, Ross details her childhood and early education, family life and sexual assault. She traces and analyzes her political evolution from black nationalism in the 1970s to liberal feminism in the 1980s, and from human rights advocacy in the 1990s to reproductive justice organizing in the present. Her account sheds light on the interplay of national and international events in women of color organizing in the U.S. (Transcript 364 pp.)

Scope and Contents In this oral history, Martinez describes her childhood immersed in the Catholic culture of Mexican immigrants in California. She describes an emotionally difficult marriage. She traces her decades of political work and details current programs of the National Latina Health Organization. Martinez recounts moments of cooperation and tension between women of color and mainstream women's groups as well as among women of color. Her story underscores the centrality of Self-Help to her life and...

Abstract Reproductive rights advocate. Papers include organization, conference, and symposia materials; appointment books; writings; educational records; correspondence; photographs; and memorabilia. They document Rodriguez's many professional activities, especially her activism in health and education for women of color, including SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective and the Latina Roundtable on Health and Reproductive Rights. In addition they document her activities on behalf of...

Scope and Contents In this interview Marian Kramer talks about developing an understanding of injustice and racism as a young girl growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Dallas, Texas. Kramer remembers some of her early experiences organizing and participating in successful economic boycotts. Her drive for activism led her to drop out of school and become a full time organizer with the Congress of Racial Equality, as well as talking in detail about her first arrest. Kramer talks about the development of...

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In this oral history Mary Chung Hayashi describes her childhood in South Korea and in the U.S. and discusses the circumstances that have led her to launch successive organizations addressing health issues in the Asian American community. She also discusses her path towards becoming the first Korean American elected to the California State Assembly. (Transcript 34 pp.)

Abstract This collection contains raw footage created by N'Dieye Danavall, an Atlanta-based feminist film maker whose work focuses on transforming experiences of people of color. The footage is from her film Listen Up! New Voices for Reproductive Justice, which documents several women of color and feminist groups as they organize for the 2004 March for Women's Lives. The documentary features SisterLove, SisterSong, the National Center for Human Rights Education,...

Scope and Contents In this oral history, Touré recalls her childhood in public housing projects and her high school activism against institutionalized racism. She details the organizational structure and gender dynamics of the Black Panther Party and describes her transition into black feminist activism in the 1970s. She recounts the challenges of simultaneously promoting a broad anti-violence agenda within the anti-rape movement while asserting women's rights within nationalist politics. Touré's story...

Scope and Contents In this oral history, Saika underscores the lasting impact of the internment experience as a call to vigilance and action. She traces her political involvements from pan-Asian student activism in the late 1960s forward, marking her journey through various forms of organizing: direct service, civil rights, community organizing, and philanthropy. The interview offers a general outline of Saika's path as a postwar progressive who embraces her generation's challenge to build an ethnic movement...

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Ports recalls vivid stories of the impact of FBI surveillance of her family during World War II, including her mother's house arrest. She describes growing up in a Japanese American family in the postwar years. She details racial tensions in her personal life and public work, and comments on cultural norms and stereotypes that have influenced her ability to speak out. Ports summarizes her years of organizing around AIDS.(Transcript 91 pp.)

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SisterLove is the first women's HIV/AIDS organization in the southeastern United States. The SisterLove records include administrative and program files from the founding of SisterLove to the early 2000s. Particularly well documented are SisterLove's grant applications, their residential program for HIV positive women called "Love House," the Healthy Love Parties, the Women's HIV/AIDS Resources Project (WHARP), their programs in South Africa, and their outreach efforts.

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Reproductive rights advocacy and healthcare reform organization. Conference materials, background information, and video recordings from the SisterSong National Membership Meetings.

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Feminist; Professor, Women's Studies; Author; Reproductive rights advocate. Research files, correspondence and manuscripts related to the book Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organizing for Reproductive Justice (2004) by Jael Miriam Silliman, Loretta Ross, Marlene Fried, and Elena Gutiérrez.

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Oral History Project documenting the persistence and diversity of organizing for women in the United States. Narrators include labor, peace, and anti-racism activists; artists and writers; lesbian rights advocates; grassroots anti-violence and anti-poverty organizers; and women of color reproductive justice leaders. Interviews cover childhood, personal life, and political work. Most oral histories consist of audiovisual recordings and transcripts, plus some background information.