Focusing on our power
New year, same crip. As I go forward, panting and sore, towards my impeding dissertation submission deadline, I am elbow deep in Spinoza’s concept that true liberation comes from acting from our power. In my personal life (which, let’s be real, is essentially intertwined with my academic practice), this means I have been dreaming up new projects and making brave new plans, choosing life and power. So, in this the beginning of 2021, I wanted to encourage you to reflect on what is your power so that we may combine our strivings to collectively choose to see power and not weakness in ourselves and our communities.
I thought I would include a few sources that I am carrying over from last year in the hope that you too may find them useful, because, after all, Spinoza tells us that looking for and recognising the power of others that are similar to us is one of the best ways to practice self-love. All of these authors and creators deserve to have their work discussed and supported, so please give direct some of your power to them.
Imani “Crutches and Spice” Barbarin, disability advocate and communicator: Follow her work on Twitter and TikTok and support it by donation on her website.
Jess “Disabled PhD” Rauchberg, disability advocate, communications and media scholar: Follow Jess’ work on disability justice and education in academia on Instagram.
Dr Sophia “The Metropolitanist” Basaldua-Sun, PhD in comparative literature and public humanities communicator: Follow her work on Instagram.
And some philosophy papers to add to your TBE (to-be-empowered) list:
Dotson, Kristie. “How Is This Paper Philosophy?”, Comparative Philosophy, Volume 3 No. 1 (2012): 03-29.
Tremain, Shelley, “Feminist Philosophy of Disability: A Genealogical Intervention”, The Southern Journal of Philosophy, Volume 57, Issue 1 (2019, 132-158.
Tucker, Ericka. “Affective Disorders of the State: A Spinozan Diagnosis and Cure”, Journal of East-Western Thought, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Summer 2013): 97-120.