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This Woman‟S Work: the Sociopolitical Activism of Bebe Moore Campbell

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This Woman‟S Work: the Sociopolitical Activism of Bebe Moore Campbell THIS WOMAN‟S WORK: THE SOCIOPOLITICAL ACTIVISM OF BEBE MOORE CAMPBELL A Dissertation Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By Osizwe Eyidiyiye (Raena J. Harwell) May 2011 Examining Committee Members: Nathaniel Norment, Jr, Advisory Chair, African American Studies Abu Abarry, African American Studies Muhammed Ahmed (Maxwell Stanford), African American Studies Valerie Smith, External Member, Princeton University Nikol Alexander-Floyd, External Member, Rutgers University-New Brunswick © by Raena Jamila Harwell 2011 All Rights Reserved ii ABSTRACT This Woman‟s Work: The Sociopolitical Activism of Bebe Moore Campbell Osizwe Eyidiyiye (Raena Jamila Harwell) Doctor of Philosophy Temple University, 2011 Doctoral Advisor Committee Chair: Nathaniel Norment, Jr. In November 2006, award-winning novelist, Bebe Moore Campbell died at the age of 56 after a short battle with brain cancer. Although the author was widely-known and acclaimed for her first novel, Your Blues Ain‟t Like Mine (1992) there had been no serious study of her life, nor her literary and activist work. This dissertation examines Campbell‟s activism in two periods: as a student at the University of Pittsburgh during the 1960s Black Student Movement, and later as a mental health advocate near the end of her life in 2006. It also analyzes Campbell‟s first and final novels, Your Blues Ain‟t Like Mine and 72 Hour Hold (2005) and the direct relationship between her novels and her activist work. Oral history interview, primary source document analysis, and textual analysis of the two novels, were employed to examine and reconstruct Campbell‟s activist activities, approaches, intentions and impact in both her work as a student activist at the University of Pittsburgh and her work as a mental health advocate and spokesperson for the National Alliance for Mental Illness. A key idea considered is the impact of her early activism and consciousness on her later activism, writing, and advocacy. I describe the subject‟s activism within the Black Action Society from 1967-1971 and her negotiation of the black nationalist ideologies espoused during the 1960s. Campbell‟s first novel Your Blues Ain‟t Like Mine and is correlated to her emerging political consciousness (specific to race and gender) and the concern for racial violence during the Black Liberation iii period. The examination of recurrent themes in Your Blues reveals a direct relationship to Campbell‟s activism at the University of Pittsburgh. I also document Campbell‟s later involvement in the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), her role as a national spokesperson, and the local activism that sparked the birth of the NAMI Urban-Los Angeles chapter, serving black and Latino communities (1999-2006). Campbell‟s final novel, 72 Hour Hold, is examined closely for its socio-political commentary and emphasis on mental health disparities, coping with mental illness, and advocacy in black communities. Campbell utilized recurring signature themes within each novel to theorize and connect popular audiences with African American historical memory and current sociopolitical issues. Drawing from social movement theories, I contend that Campbell‟s activism, writing, and intellectual development reflect the process of frame alignment. That is, through writing and other activist practices she effectively amplifies, extends, and transforms sociopolitical concerns specific to African American communities, effectively engaging a broad range of readers and constituents. By elucidating Campbell‟s formal and informal leadership roles within two social movement organizations and her deliberate use of writing as an activist tool, I conclude that in both activist periods Campbell‟s effective use of resources, personal charisma, and mobilizing strategies aided in grassroots/local and institutional change. This biographical and critical study of the sociopolitical activism of Bebe Moore Campbell establishes the necessity for scholarly examination of African American women writers marketed to popular audiences and expands the study of African American women‟s contemporary activism, health activism, and black student activism. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In both my personal and professional life I have enjoyed a rich community of support that some only hope for. I recognize how fortunate I am to be surrounded by some of the most patient, insightful, and selfless people walking the planet. This project would simply not have been possible without the kindness and sacrifice of others and I have benefitted from their help at each stage and in various forms. Some fed me, kept me company, read drafts, and gave excellent suggestions for research and writing. Others offered emotional support, a kind ear, a firm nudge, or a few dollars here and there if I needed it. Some simply remained prayerful and continued to love me through the process. Dr. Nathaniel Norment, Jr., from the very beginning your guidance, sacrifice, and faith in me has been essential to my success. You have a heart of gold and I am simply blessed to have worked with you as my advisor. To my dissertation committee: Dr. Abu Abarry, Dr. Muhammed Ahmed (Maxwell Stanford), Dr. Valerie Smith, and Dr. Nikol Alexander-Floyd, I appreciate you more than words can express. Your commitment to this project, your sound and exact critique, and your unwavering confidence in my ability has made all the difference in the world. To my informal committee: Dolores Bolden- Milan (Ma), Zaire L. Harwell (Baby Bro), Nasha L. Taylor, Takiyah Nur Amin, Mama Rosemarie Norment, and Dr. Daniel Omotosho Black, you have witnessed the good, the bad, and the ugly of this process (both the writing and the personal transformation). You have been my personal cheerleaders along the way and refused to let me give up when things got really difficult. Thank you for believing in me; I am eternally indebted! To: James Seku Harwell (Papa-Ku), thank you for your continued prayer and energy, for v loving me as your firstborn child and only daughter, and for not “treating me like a girl” or limiting me in any way based on my gender. Kendrick Juwon Scales (Big Bro), Takiyah Tyler Scales (Tikki), Clarence Milan and Tika Milan, I love you dearly. You have enlarged our family as you have also enlarged my heart. Mr. Ellis Gordon, Mrs. Doris Moore, and Dr. Linda Wharton-Boyd I am so grateful to each of you for connecting me to people and to resources, for sharing your intimate stories and for welcoming me into your homes and sacred spaces to learn more about your beloved, Bebe. I am also grateful for the cooperation of all of the study participants who took time out for interviews; the Pitt African American Alumni Council (PITAAAC) for welcoming me to the 2009 Sankofa Homecoming 40 Year Celebration of African American Progress; and the helpful staff at the Archive Service Center at the University of Pittsburgh. Erica Purkett, thank you setting this project on its course by inviting me to the Bebe Moore Campbell‟s East Coast Memorial/Celebration and thank you to Sonia Sanchez for the stirring keynote address at this event that inspired this dissertation altogether. I am appreciative of the supportive academic community at Temple University: particularly Stephanie Tschanz, Tammey Abner and the students and faculty of the African American Studies department. This project benefitted significantly from the dissertation writing retreats, tutoring, and assistantship provided by the Temple University Writing Center; thank you to: Lori Salem, Rebekah Buchanan and my writing tutors Ryan Witt and Danielle Wallace. Thank you to Dr. Pamela Barnett and the Teaching and Learning Center, Temple Writing Academy for excellent mentorship and training. To Dr. Patricia Melzer, Dr. Rebecca Alpert and the Women‟s Studies program: vi I am so grateful to have participated in seminars and classes with such brilliant and free- thinking women. Thank you for aiding in my transformation and the confident articulation of my unique voice and contributions. Thank you to Dr. Augusto Lorenzino, Dr. Peter Logan and The Center for Humanities at Temple (CHAT) for your encouragement and support in the early stages of the project. To the scholars and professors who have given me insight and guidance along the road, Dr. Sonja Peterson- Lewis, Dr. James Davis, Dr. Anthony Montiero, Dr. Greg Kimathi Carr , Dr. Rita Fierro, Dr. Bettye Collier-Thomas, Dana King, Dr. Kristi Brian, Dr. Wilbert Jenkins, thank you for pressing me to be a thorough researcher, writer, and intellectual. To my students: thank you for welcoming me to challenge you and for always expecting excellence. I am also grateful for the support of: Adele Newson-Horst and National Council of Black Studies, and the Center for African American Studies at Princeton. To my doctoral student “sista-scholars” (both preceding me and coming forth very soon): together we are changing the historical record and making our foremothers proud. Crystal, Melissa, Qrescent, MR, Nyama, Stacey, Kelli, Nashay, Daly, Monique, Valerie, Camika, Erin, Lorraine, and Danielle J., I am blessed to have such a rich network of grad school colleagues (across disciplines and universities) with which to vent, problem-solve, and celebrate. And of course “I got love” for my brothers in the academy, too- David A., Rhone, Sydney F., and Heru you are absolutely wonderful and brilliant men. Safiya, Ife Ichoku, and Danise: thank you for always being just a phone call away and
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