Ask a Feminist a Conversation with Cathy Cohen on Black Lives Matter, Feminism, and Contemporary Activism
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ASK A FEMINIST A conversation with Cathy Cohen on Black Lives Matter, feminism, and contemporary activism WITH CatHY J. COHEN AND SARAH J. JacKSON Introduction I had the pleasure of having this con- versation with Cathy Cohen, the David and Mary Winton Green Professor of VOL 31, NO. 14 DEC. 30, 2015 Political Science and chair of political science at the University of Chicago, in www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com late 2015. Cohen’s work, both academically and as an activist, has inspired my own, particularly in terms of making connec- tions between black feminist theory, so- cial movements, and issues of race and racism in the United States. Cohen is the principal investigator of two major social change projects: The Black Youth Project and the Mobilization, Change and Political and Civic Engagement Project. Her books, Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics and The Boundaries of Blackness: AIDS and the Breakdown of Black Politics have offered important interventions in scholarship on race and politics. She is also the coeditor, with Kathleen Jones and Joan Tronto, of Women Transform- ing Politics: An Alternative Reader. Since the publication of my book, Black Celebrity, Racial Politics, and the Press: Framing Dissent, I have been par- ticularly compelled by the use of tech- nology by racial justice activists like the women who started #BlackLivesMatter. My recent collaborative work with Brooke Foucault Welles, “Hijacking #myNYPD: Social Media Dissent and Net- worked Counterpublics” and “#Ferguson is Everywhere: Initiators in Emerging Counterpublic Networks” (in press), has illustrated that everyday citizens—par- ticularly young women and people of Cathy Cohen. color—are having a very real impact on national narratives of equality and citizenship. see feminism, and feminist scholarship in particular, playing In the following conversation, Cohen and I discuss the po- in today’s racial justice movements, as well as what you think tentials for feminist theory in racial justice movements, the scholars can learn from activists and vice versa. unique ways in which race and gender intersect in state vio- Cathy Cohen (CC): That’s a really big and important ques- lence, challenges for feminist academics of color engaged in tion. At its most basic level I think that feminism at the activism, and the shape of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. very least—and maybe most importantly—makes us stop and KIT DUFFY DIES You can follow us on Twitter at @cathyjcohen and @sjjphd ask about the role that women, and here I mean both cis respectively. and trans women, are playing at this particular time in the Longtime ally of the LGBT community, —Sarah J. Jackson multiple movements that are emerging, and particularly, at Mayor Washington’s gay liaison, has died. least for the work that I’m doing and thinking about, in what Photo by Israel Wright 8 Sarah Jackson (SJ): I’d like to begin by asking what role you Turn to page 10 CONTROVERSY LINGERS HAPPY NEW YEAR! BURNING BOWL People speak out after the FDA eases See our NYE calendar listings in Nightspots. Affinity’s annual event to take place in blood-donation ban. Photo of New Year’s Eve 2014 at @mosphere by Jerry Nunn January. Official headshot of U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley 13 20 Photo of 2015 event by Carrie Maxwell 18 2 Dec. 30, 2015 WINDY CITY TIMES Actual Size One pill contains elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, New Genvoya® and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). is now available Ask your healthcare provider if GENVOYA is right for you. To learn more visit GENVOYA.com Please see Brief Summary of Patient Information with important warnings on the following pages. GENC0003_WindyCity_10.x13.5_Sprd.indd 1-2 12/3/15 3:23 PM WINDY CITY TIMES Dec. 30, 2015 3 Actual Size One pill contains elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, New Genvoya® and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). is now available Ask your healthcare provider if GENVOYA is right for you. To learn more visit GENVOYA.com Please see Brief Summary of Patient Information with important warnings on the following pages. GENC0003_WindyCity_10.x13.5_Sprd.indd 1-2 12/3/15 3:23 PM 4 Dec. 30, 2015 WINDY CITY TIMES Brief Summary of Patient Information What is GENVOYA? What should I tell my healthcare provider What are the possible side effects of GENVOYA? about GENVOYA GENVOYA is a prescription medicine that is used without other HIV-1 before taking GENVOYA? GENVOYA may cause serious side effects, including: GENVOYA (jen-VOY-uh) medicines to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years of age and older: Before taking GENVOYA, tell your healthcare provider if you: • See “What is the most important information I should know (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir • who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past or • have liver problems including hepatitis B infection about GENVOYA?” alafenamide) tablets • to replace their current HIV-1 medicines in people who have • have kidney or bone problems • Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 been on the same HIV-1 medicines for at least 6 months, have medicine. These changes may include increased amount of fat Important: Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about • have any other medical conditions medicines that should not be taken with GENVOYA. an amount of HIV-1 in their blood (“viral load”) that is less than in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if There may be new information about GENVOYA. This information is only 50 copies/mL, and have never failed past HIV-1 treatment GENVOYA can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare the middle of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms a summary and does not take the place of talking with your healthcare HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. provider if you become pregnant while taking GENVOYA. and face may also happen. The exact cause and long-term health ® effects of these conditions are not known. provider about your medical condition or treatment. GENVOYA contains the prescription medicines elvitegravir (VITEKTA ), Pregnancy registry: there is a pregnancy registry for women cobicistat (TYBOST®), emtricitabine (EMTRIVA®) and tenofovir alafenamide. • Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution What is the most important information who take HIV-1 medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of this It is not known if GENVOYA is safe and effective in children under Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. I should know about GENVOYA? registry is to collect information about the health of you and your 12 years of age. baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you can take Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fi ght infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell GENVOYA can cause serious side effects, including: When used to treat HIV-1 infection, GENVOYA may: part in this registry. your healthcare provider right away if you start having any new • Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). • Reduce the amount of HIV-1 in your blood. • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine. Lactic acidosis may happen in some people who take GENVOYA. This is called “viral load”. take GENVOYA. Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your • Increase the number of CD4+ (T) cells in your blood that help – You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk to death. Lactic acidosis can be hard to identify early, because healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your fi ght off other infections. of passing HIV-1 to your baby. kidneys before you start and while you are taking GENVOYA. Your the symptoms could seem like symptoms of other health problems. Reducing the amount of HIV-1 and increasing the CD4+ (T) cells in your – At least one of the medicines in GENVOYA can pass to your Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking GENVOYA if you blood may help improve your immune system. This may reduce your baby in your breast milk. It is not known if the other medicines develop new or worse kidney problems. following symptoms, which could be signs of lactic acidosis: risk of death or getting infections that can happen when your immune in GENVOYA can pass into your breast milk. • Bone problems can happen in some people who take GENVOYA. • feel very weak or tired system is weak (opportunistic infections). – Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed Bone problems may include bone pain, softening or thinning • have unusual (not normal) muscle pain GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. You must stay on your baby. (which may lead to fractures). Your healthcare provider may need continuous HIV-1 therapy to control HIV-1 infection and decrease • have trouble breathing Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, to do tests to check your bones. HIV-related illnesses. including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and • have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting The most common side effect of GENVOYA is nausea. Avoid doing things that can spread HIV-1 infection to others: herbal supplements. Other medicines may affect how GENVOYA works. • feel cold, especially in your arms and legs Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that Do not share or re-use needles or other injection equipment. Some medicines may interact with GENVOYA.