““What can we learn from women like Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday that we may not be able to learn from Ida B. Wells, Anna Julia Cooper, and Mary Church Terrell? If we were beginning to appreciate the blasphemies of fictionalized blues women - especially their outrageous politics of sexuality - and the knowledge that might be gleaned from their lives about the possibilities of transforming gender relations within black communities, perhaps we also could benefit from a look at the artistic contributions of the original blues women.””
![“I believe it’s incredibly important to write against [racial] stereotypes. If we give in and make sure that all black women characters are asexual, gentle, and kind we wind up with another set of stereotypes.” quote by Justine Larbalestier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5fe/justine-larbalestier-9337_black_i-believe-it-s-incredibly-important-to-w_2225514.jpg)
![“[Prison] relieves us of the responsibility of seriously engaging with the problems of our society, especially those produced by racism and, increasingly, global capitalism.” quote by Angela Y. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/816/angela-y-davis-34412_capitalism_prison-relieves-us-of-the-responsibility_3003925.jpg)
![“Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people who are working on [change] find that very difficult: They've been schooled into thinking you have to come up with the perfect plan in advance. It has become a bit technocratic.” quote by Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d17/duncan-green-20105_activist_some-kinds-of-activists-are-more-willing_57391.jpg)
