Earth, Healing, and Black Feminism with Alexis Pauline Gumbs

In this enlightening episode of “Embodied Justice”, Dr. Judy Lubin sits down with the distinguished poet, scholar, and black feminist, Alexis Pauline Gumbs. Together, they delve into the teachings and life of Audre Lorde and explore how her profound insights into survival and resilience can guide today’s black change makers. This conversation highlights the importance of rest, community, and deep connection with the Earth in advancing racial equity and justice. Alexis shares her wisdom on balancing personal well-being with the critical work of social change, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersections of black feminism, environmental justice, and community healing.

In this episode you will learn about: 

• Audre Lorde’s Legacy of Resilience and Survival: A multifaceted approach to survival, particularly in the face of personal and societal challenges. Highlighting Lorde’s ability to navigate her cancer diagnosis with holistic self-care and her experiences with war and trauma provide a profound blueprint for today's activists.
• The Connection Between Environmental Justice and Black Feminism: Gumbs draws poignant connections between the civil rights movement and environmental justice. She discusses how the actions of figures like June Jordan and Fannie Lou Hamer inform the black feminist movement today, particularly in addressing reproductive justice and climate crises.
• Embodied Practice and Grounding with the Earth: The crucial practice of grounding and connecting with the Earth daily. Gumbs and Dr. Lubin share personal grounding techniques and discuss how these practices can foster deeper community ties and personal resilience, enriching the social and political movements they support.

Tune in to this episode to immerse yourself in the rich dialogue between Dr. Judy Lubin and Alexis Pauline Gumbs, and uncover the transformative wisdom rooted in black feminist thought.

About Our Guest:
Alexis Pauline Gumbs is a trailblazing poet, scholar, and black feminist whose work embodies the heart of queer black troublemaking. Renowned for her innovative and deeply resonant writing, she fuses personal, political, historical, and imaginative dimensions to create profound connections and healing. Grounded in the rich heritage of black feminism, her early influences include a feminist household and exposure to the works of Audre Lorde. Gumbs' scholarship spans across a myriad of topics, from environmental justice to reproductive rights, consistently emphasizing resilience and survival through the lens of black feminist theory. As a Monument Lab fellow, she delves into the creativity and wisdom that emerge from surviving climate catastrophes. Alexis Pauline Gumbs' contributions extend to community workshops and reflective sessions that invite participants to engage deeply with ancestral knowledge and their own inner worlds.

Connect with Our Guest:
On Her Website: alexispauline.com
On Instagram: @alexispauline

Thank for spending your precious time with us!

This episode is brought to you by the Center for Urban and Racial Equity. To learn more CURE and the Embodied Justice Program and Retreat, head to https://urbanandracialequity.org/embodied-justice-program/