What do you think?
Rate this book
To Exist is to Resist: Black Feminism in Europe
This book brings together activists, artists, and scholars of color to show how Black feminism and Afrofeminism are being practiced in Europe today, exploring their differing social positions in various countries, and exploring the ways in which they organize and mobilize to imagine a Black feminist Europe.
Deeply aware that they are constructed as “others” living in a racialized and hierarchical continent, the contributors explore gender, class, sexuality, and legal status to show that they are both invisible—presumed to be absent from and irrelevant to European societies—and hyper-visible, assumed to be passive and sexualized, angry and irrational.
In imagining a future outside the neocolonial frames and practices of contemporary Europe, this book explores a variety of critical spaces including motherhood and the home, friendships and intimate relationships, activism and community, and literature, dance, and film.
Deeply aware that they are constructed as “others” living in a racialized and hierarchical continent, the contributors explore gender, class, sexuality, and legal status to show that they are both invisible—presumed to be absent from and irrelevant to European societies—and hyper-visible, assumed to be passive and sexualized, angry and irrational.
In imagining a future outside the neocolonial frames and practices of contemporary Europe, this book explores a variety of critical spaces including motherhood and the home, friendships and intimate relationships, activism and community, and literature, dance, and film.
272 pages, Paperback
Published May 20, 2019
12 people are currently reading
983 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 21, 2021
This seminal work offers firsthand accounts of several Afropean womxnist collectives and movements across Europe. Each essay in the collection explores how Black women in Europe are creating spaces for cultural and knowledge production/exchange, political resistance, and radical self-care in order to bring forth social change against institutional racism and misogynoir. They explore identity, gender, class, and sexuality in myriad ways —e.g., through personal relationships, activism, scholarship, and the arts— in different spheres (public, private and virtual), languages, and social contexts.
I especially enjoyed the chapter on Black Pete, Black Motherhood and Womanist Ethics, where Lubumbe van der Velde describes the dilemma Black Dutch and Flemish women have faced
Regarding the Sinterklaas holiday, and how they have reimagined this tradition in such a way that it does not compromise on their and their children's dignity. Sadia Qureshi's A Manifesto for Survival also hit close to home; her encouraging words for Black women and women of color in academia to take up space, organize and refuse to be silenced were a breath of fresh air for my own experiences as a researcher.
To Exist is to Resist is food for thought and thought for action; a reminder that we can and must imagine a new concept of Europeanness by following the lead of these and other Black women and nonbinary scholars, activists and creatives: to exchange individualism for solidarity and find joy in community building to fight for social justice.
I especially enjoyed the chapter on Black Pete, Black Motherhood and Womanist Ethics, where Lubumbe van der Velde describes the dilemma Black Dutch and Flemish women have faced
Regarding the Sinterklaas holiday, and how they have reimagined this tradition in such a way that it does not compromise on their and their children's dignity. Sadia Qureshi's A Manifesto for Survival also hit close to home; her encouraging words for Black women and women of color in academia to take up space, organize and refuse to be silenced were a breath of fresh air for my own experiences as a researcher.
To Exist is to Resist is food for thought and thought for action; a reminder that we can and must imagine a new concept of Europeanness by following the lead of these and other Black women and nonbinary scholars, activists and creatives: to exchange individualism for solidarity and find joy in community building to fight for social justice.
February 22, 2023
Really important, diverse collection of essays discussing Black feminism in Europe from community leaders, academics, and activists. While of course Black feminism in the US has been in constant dialogue it's sister in Europe, it is important to see it's differences and particularities, even remembering the long history which was not imported from the US. As they ask, how would the world be different if we centred Claudia Jones and Aimé Cesare?
Black women have been in Europe since its inception and so has Black feminism!
Enjoyed especially the focus on migration and diaspora, the interviews with European Black women that showed their critical negotiations with the European project, and discussions about what Politically Black could mean in this decade.
Overall really interesting informative and long overdue, I hope it is followed by many more editions !!
Black women have been in Europe since its inception and so has Black feminism!
Enjoyed especially the focus on migration and diaspora, the interviews with European Black women that showed their critical negotiations with the European project, and discussions about what Politically Black could mean in this decade.
Overall really interesting informative and long overdue, I hope it is followed by many more editions !!
October 14, 2020
Highlights:
"Those Who Fight For Us Without Us Are Against Us: Afrofeminist Activism in France" by Cyn Awori Othieno and Annette Davis on behalf of Mwasi Collectif
In France self-labelled antiracist organisations along with the status quo cry 'reverse racism' not just when trying to shut down Black feminist events. There is pushback and dismissal anytime experiences of racism are publicly discussed, anytime whiteness is not invisibilised as 'normal,' when we do not tiptoe around centuries of violent history swept under the carpet.
"Cruel Ironies: The Afterlife of Black Womxn’s Intervention" by Cruel Ironies Collective
Confronting the appropriation of Black feminist thought while non-Black women of colour and dominant groups silence Black women in academia
"Creating a Space Within the German Academy" by Melody Howse
Speaking up against and excavating anthropology's colonialist roots
"A Manifesto for Survival" by Sadiah Qureshi
Surviving and transforming academia
"But Some of Us Are Tired: Black Women’s ‘Personal Feminist Essays’ in the Digital Sphere" by Kesiena Boom
The commodification of Black women's pain in white-controlled publishing
Note: Claire Heuchan (Sister Outrider) is anti-trans
"Those Who Fight For Us Without Us Are Against Us: Afrofeminist Activism in France" by Cyn Awori Othieno and Annette Davis on behalf of Mwasi Collectif
In France self-labelled antiracist organisations along with the status quo cry 'reverse racism' not just when trying to shut down Black feminist events. There is pushback and dismissal anytime experiences of racism are publicly discussed, anytime whiteness is not invisibilised as 'normal,' when we do not tiptoe around centuries of violent history swept under the carpet.
"Cruel Ironies: The Afterlife of Black Womxn’s Intervention" by Cruel Ironies Collective
Confronting the appropriation of Black feminist thought while non-Black women of colour and dominant groups silence Black women in academia
"Creating a Space Within the German Academy" by Melody Howse
Speaking up against and excavating anthropology's colonialist roots
"A Manifesto for Survival" by Sadiah Qureshi
Surviving and transforming academia
"But Some of Us Are Tired: Black Women’s ‘Personal Feminist Essays’ in the Digital Sphere" by Kesiena Boom
The commodification of Black women's pain in white-controlled publishing
Note: Claire Heuchan (Sister Outrider) is anti-trans
March 19, 2021
such an important collection of essays that center the work Black European women are doing now and everywhere. these essays engage with the ways in which Black American feminism and activists have been the focal point of these conversations and work when the social conditions in the US are not analogous to every other country nor are they transferrable in the form they currently exist in. many of these brilliant scholars, public servants, influencers, professionals, content creators, professors, etc. provide an entry point into reshaping how we imagine race and race relations abroad (said by an American) since it encompasses and emphasizes different aspects relating to colonization and imperialism that are pertinent to Black people and POC in Europe.
Emejulu and Sobande curate a wonderful selection of essays that span a diverse spread of topics and lived experiences. there are a handful that i will carry in my back pocket, grateful for the beautiful writing and the important sentiments. some of these essays even made me cry. perhaps it was an emotional time of my life, but they filled my heart and inspired hope.
Emejulu and Sobande curate a wonderful selection of essays that span a diverse spread of topics and lived experiences. there are a handful that i will carry in my back pocket, grateful for the beautiful writing and the important sentiments. some of these essays even made me cry. perhaps it was an emotional time of my life, but they filled my heart and inspired hope.
February 23, 2022
As noted by another commenter, Claire Heuchan is anti trans. I did not read her article and am noting the book for everything else.
It's good.
It's good.
July 17, 2023
Forgot how I came across this book but I was curious to learn more. I don't know much, if anything, about Black feminism in Europe or anywhere else so I thought this might be a good read. In a series of essays, the authors (who range from artists to academics to leaders in their fields) discuss Black feminism in many areas such as academia, art, the media, history, etc. in multiple countries from the UK, to Denmark, etc.
It was interesting to see these perspectives, which seem to have parallels and similarities to those conversations in the US (I say "seem" because I'm sure I don't understand the various nuances and differences that others would). Obviously there will be differences of opinions, backgrounds and experiences since there's a different history in these countries vs. the US, but that's certainly not a bad thing in any way, just something I had to remember.
I will say it was tough. I am not the audience this book is for and sometimes found the essays hard to work through. That's only from my perspective, though, and it is not necessarily a reflection of the text in any way. It's not surprising, though, that this is probably for a niche group of people and might be of interest to others, but I would say this is probably reserved for academics, people specifically interested in Black feminism, etc.
As many others have noted, Claire Heuchan is anti-trans.
If you're really interested, a Kindle/e-reader version is probably the cheapest way to get this book. Perhaps might be at a local university library but that would depend on your ability to access. I'm not sure if your regular local library would have this book either but I would say that unless you have a specific interest in this topic, it's probably more for academics/scholars of this field than a regular reader. Borrowed from the library and that was best for me.
It was interesting to see these perspectives, which seem to have parallels and similarities to those conversations in the US (I say "seem" because I'm sure I don't understand the various nuances and differences that others would). Obviously there will be differences of opinions, backgrounds and experiences since there's a different history in these countries vs. the US, but that's certainly not a bad thing in any way, just something I had to remember.
I will say it was tough. I am not the audience this book is for and sometimes found the essays hard to work through. That's only from my perspective, though, and it is not necessarily a reflection of the text in any way. It's not surprising, though, that this is probably for a niche group of people and might be of interest to others, but I would say this is probably reserved for academics, people specifically interested in Black feminism, etc.
As many others have noted, Claire Heuchan is anti-trans.
If you're really interested, a Kindle/e-reader version is probably the cheapest way to get this book. Perhaps might be at a local university library but that would depend on your ability to access. I'm not sure if your regular local library would have this book either but I would say that unless you have a specific interest in this topic, it's probably more for academics/scholars of this field than a regular reader. Borrowed from the library and that was best for me.
April 29, 2021
Iets te Amerikaans naar mijn smaak. Iets te veel van hetzelfde. Blij dat ik het gelezen heb en de verhalen van zwarte vrouwen beluisterd heb....
May 24, 2025
The best part of this was hearing elevenreader try and pronounce "womxn"
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews