From #Blacklivesmatter to Black Liberation

Discuss the conservative turn in politics following the recession of the 1960s Black liberation struggle. What role does the colorblind paradigm play in this conservative turn?

Explain how the Black political establishment fits within the broader political establishment. Use examples from the text to support your argument about what role the Black political establishment plays.

Taylor articulates that while the Black community bears a disproportionate brunt of police brutality, the policing state is a part of a broader attack on poor and working-class communities. Explain the relationship between institutional racism and class inequality and how the role of the police illuminates that connection.

In the Introduction, Taylor states that her aim is to answer the question of why BLM emerged under Barack Obama’s presidency. Answer the question using evidence from Chapter 5 and earlier chapters that contextualize Obama’s relationship to the Black community.

Throughout the text, Taylor demonstrates continuities and distinctions between BLM and earlier iterations of the Black liberation struggle. What are the continuities and distinctions, and why are they important to understand in terms of the forward trajectory of BLM?

In Chapter 6, Taylor emphasizes that BLM is largely driven by Black female and queer activists. Why is the leadership and organizational structure of BLM significant to their political vision and strategy?

Taylor emphasizes that non-Black people have an investment in standing in solidarity with BLM. Why do non-Black people have this investment, and what does it reveal about the interconnected oppressions of American society and the function of capitalism?

In Chapter 7, Taylor argues that radical transformation of society and visions of a new world can be the outcome of Black resistance movements. Based on the text and your own ideas, what does a new world look like?