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.)

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 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...

Scope and Contents

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.)

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...

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...

Scope and Contents

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, 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...

Abstract

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.