Dear Leftlinkers As fighters for justice and human rights, you will undoubtedly be as thrilled as I am by "Voices of Color," a new offering from Red Letter Press. This powerful anthology, edited by Yolanda Alaniz and Nellie Wong, is an essential tool for anyone who wants to hear what grassroots activists of colour have to say about the forces impacting their lives. In 35 articles, writers of different racts, genders, and sexual orientations offer insightful reports on little-known union and community organising campaigns, news on Native struggles, frank discussions on how to combat racism within progressive organisations, film and book reviews and much, much more. All articles tie together the issues of sex, sexuality and race in a way that is seldom seen. The book conveys great optimism about race relations and social progress, because it presents the actual experiences of people who are out there every day in the struggle. As Ria Roncales-Goodwin writes in The Asian Reporter, "Their writings urge us to realise that we are powerful as individuals, that people will listen to us, and that we can make a difference." Another appreciative review by Aboriginal activist Ray Jackson is reprinted at the end of this letter. I urge you to purchase "Voices of Color" for your library, or perhaps as a special gift for a friend. By responding immediately, you will not only gain an inspiring new book but you will also help Melbourne Radical Women and the Freedom Socialist Party, make our collective goal of selling 85 books by 14 June. If you email your order form (below) to us by 14 June, you will get a free copy of the current issue of the Freedom Socialist newspaper, featuring the Voices of Color column: "Energy and optimism of young people needed to win back affirmative action." I will contact you directly to make arrangements for payment. I look forward to hearing from you soon. In solidarity, Debbie Brennan Freedom Socialist Party (Melbourne) ________________Clip here______________ ORDER FORM Yes, I want a copy of "Voices of Color" Red Letter Press, 160 pp, paperback, ISBN 0-932323-05-7 $18.85 (AUD) + $2.50 for shipping Name: Address: City: State: Area Code: Tel: Fax: Email: ____________________________________________ RED LETTER PRESS PO Box 266 West Brunswick Vic 3055 Tel: (03) 9386 3230 FAX (03) 9386 5065 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Find out more about Red Letter Press at: http://www.socialism.com/bookstore/bookstor.html (Email bookstore and review requests to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) _______________________________________________ Book Review by Ray Jackson In 35 exciting articles, "Voices of Color" encompasses the whole rainbow of struggle and empowerment for people of colour in the United States and Canada. We hear the strong, vibrant voices of African Americans, Chicanas/os, Asian pacific Americans and Native Americans detailing their fights for social justice over the past 15 years. These are the voices of the Comrades of Colour Caucus of the Freedom Socialist Party and Radical Women. In their writings is the recognition that struggles for the equality of all races, sexes, sexualities and working people are linked -- each finding strength and purpose by being mutually inclusive. The 20 authors are all leading activists with attitude -- and proper attitude at that! Though the writers are in the United States, their struggles for justice mirror ours in Australia. In "NAFTA: tri-country genocide against indigenous people," Chippewa writer, Ann Rogers, explains most clearly how the North American Free Trade Agreement is being used to sweep aside all remaining rights of the original peoples of Mexico, Canada and the United States and give corporate capital open slather. She calls NAFTA "a cannon aimed by big business." NAFTA is precursor to even more ambitious boardroom plans, like the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), to turn the world into one big "free trade" zone. For Aboriginal people everywhere, this would be the ultimate genocide. But Ann Rogers doesn't mourn. She talks about resistance -- Native peoples, trade unions and environmentalists unifying as a counterforce that can beat our common enemy: international big business. The authors cover so many more shared struggles -- against bans on bilingual education, racism in sport and entertainment, racist police crackdowns and racist bosses. They are activists in the trade unions and the movements of gay/lesbian/transgender rights, Native American cultural and land rights, among others. This is but a taste of the banquet served up in "Voices of Color." It is not a book to just read and then put back on the shelf. "Voices" is a resource for day-to-day struggles -- struggles that are worldwide and as fresh today as they were in 1982. It is a call for urgent, united action. "Voices of Color" is a very strong, rich palette of politics and showpiece of community action. Read, savour and enjoy. Then organise! -- Ray Jackson is a Waradjuri prisoners' rights activist and co-founder of the NSW Indigenous Social Justice Association ___________________________________ In Australia, the following bookshops stock Voices of Color: Melbourne: Cosmos, 112 Acland St, St Kilda Friends of the Earth Bookshop, 312 Smith St, Collingwood Hares & Hyenas, 135 Commercial Rd, South Yarra New International Bookshop, Trades Hall, cnr Victoria & Lygon Sts, Carlton South Resistance Bookshop, 14 Anthony St, Melbourne Sydney: Feminist Bookshop, Shop 9, Orange Grove Plaza, Lilyfield Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe Goulds Bookshop, 32 King St, Newtown The Bookshop (Darlinghurst), 207 Oxford St, Darlinghurst Adelaide: Murphy Sisters, 240 The Parade, Norwood Sisters by the Sea, 14 Semaphore Rd, Semaphore Canberra: Smiths Alternative Bookshop, 76 Alinga St, Canberra -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
