“The Only Way to Survive is By Taking Care of One Another”: Grace Lee Boggs on the Feminist Revolution From Below

Abstract

The revolutionary philosophy and activism of Grace Lee Boggs provide a model for social relations centered on an ethic of care. After witnessing the collapse of the industrial order in Detroit, which was a sign of a broader structural crisis that would reshape U.S. politics and economics, Boggs foresaw how the decline of the American middle class created openings for the far right to assert a white nationalist form of identity and collectivity in the face of economic uncertainty. To counter this xenophobic, fascist trend, Boggs drew on the democratic lessons of the civil rights and feminist movements, which prioritized collective care over private profit and exploitation. Grassroots activists particularly offer models of solidarity from below that are vital to creating models of a new and more humane social system. The author draws from experience co-authoring a book with Boggs and collaborating with her on community organizing strategies while living in Detroit.