Bev Ditsie was born in South Africa in 1971. Lesbian Activist best known for her South African lesbian Activism
Anita Cornwell Published her book in 1983, a time riddled with discrimination against black and brown men specifically. Cornwell tackles quite a several political issues within her work. Specifically, she focused quite a bit on imprisonment. This is both in the literal terms and the physical terms of the female body. There are several examples of both instances. Firstly, Cornwell recalls her time when she was at a women's rights rally and she heard of George Jacksons' death. George Jackson was an American activist. He was a member of the Black Panthers party. After wrongfully being accused of killing a white guard in prison he was shot in prison (African American Intellectual History Society [AAIHS], 2018). During this period prison activists viewed prison as modern-day slavery. George Jackson specifically was an abolitionist of the system itself. Now there are too many examples of how incarceration continues to be a continuation of slavery. It is often Black and Brown bodies who are incarcerated. For example, people in prison are 37% black but only make up 13% of the population (Prison Policy Initiative, 2023). Since Cornwell's book focuses on sexuality it is also important to note that LGBTQ people are three times amount more likely to be incarcerated. 1/6 transgender people will be incarcerated at one point in their lives (American Civil Liberties Union [ACLU], 2024). This is the physical space of prison but Cornwell also speaks of the psychological prison that women face. There are many instances where she mentions that woman are often held captive in their marriage. They are in relationships with men who value their bodies nor mind. Her last chapter of, Black Lesbians in White America is focused on letters between herself and her friend Bonnie. Bonnie is a mother and a wife. One that is held to her marriage because of the responsibility of her children. She has no freedom in her marriage. Cornwells sexuality gives her the ability to live that the marriage between a man and a woman cannot. This notion may be a little less prominent now. But the idea of the traditional family is certainly decreasing. The "New Family" is emerging which focuses on the changing of spousal roles and the definition of the family (Pew Research Center {PEW] 2010).
The Decline of Marriage And Rise of New Families. (2010, November 18). Pew Research Center. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2010/11/18/the-decline-of-marriage-and-rise-of-new-families/
James, J. (2018, August 21). George Jackson: Dragon Philosopher and Revolutionary Abolitionist. AAIHS. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://www.aaihs.org/george-jackson-dragon-philosopher-and-revolutionary-abolitionist/
Race and ethnicity. (2024). Prison Policy Initiative. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://www.prisonpolicy.org/research/race_and_ethnicity/
Woods, A. (2023, June 23). Pride Has Always Been About Ending Mass Incarceration | ACLU. American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/pride-has-always-been-about-ending-mass-incarceration