A modern voice in feminism and racial justice describes her own journey and approach to dismantling the frameworks and systems that no longer serve us while building liberating new ones that better affirm our individuality. Illustrations.
"A deeply personal and illuminating approach to antiracism and allyship, revealing the power of imagination and action to dismantle oppressive systems and build liberating ones, from a highly lauded lecturer, public academic, writer, and activist. In A Renaissance of Our Own, Rachel Cargle details the seminal event that put her on the map-her viral 2017 Women's March appearance that thrust her into the national conversation on feminism and allyship-and how she soon woke up to the fallacies of a movement she had believed in. Discovering and unpacking the white-washed lies she'd been fed about intersectional "solidarity," Cargle's awakening, although painful and seismic, gifted her the opportunity to see the world through a new lens. Now, Cargle shares herjourney, depicting a framework for allyship, and beyond, that she developed along the way. In creating KEA (Knowledge, Empathy, Action), or as she calls them "from the head to the heart to the feet," Cargle learned to craft a world independent of oppressive constructs that allowed her to critically examine her surroundings. Alongside KEA, she established a set of intentional values based on an individual sense of purpose, known as higher values, and through the combination of these tools, reimagined her approach to the personal, societal, and structural components of life that are often stifled. She provides the same tools and prompts that she used to unearth and align her own values so anyone can wield them, and ultimately, identify the structures and mindsets that hold them back and learn to move forward. A Renaissance of Our Own serves as a reminder of the power of reimagining as an engine for critical learning, radical empathizing, and intentional action"--
From a highly lauded modern voice in feminism and racial justice comes a deeply personal and insightful testament to the power of reimagining to dismantle the frameworks and systems that no longer serve us while building new ones that do.
There are breaking points in all our lives when we realize that the way things have been done before just dont work for us anymore, be it the way we approach our relationships, our belief systems, our work, our education, even our rest. For activist, philanthropist, and CEO Rachel E. Cargle, reimaginingthe act of creating in our minds that which does not exist but that we believe can and shouldhas been a lifelong process. Reimagining served as the most powerful catalyst for Cargles personal transformation from a small-town Christian wife to an incisive queer feminist voice of a generation.
In A Renaissance of Our Own, we witness the sometimes painful but always inspiring breaking points in Cargles life that fostered a truer identity. These defining moments offer a blueprint for how we must all use our imaginationthe space that sees beyond limitsto live in alignment with our highest values and to craft a world independent of oppressive structures, both personal and societal. Cargle now invites you to acknowledge ways of being that stem from societal expectations instead of your personal truth, and to embark on a renaissance of your own. She provides the very tools and prompts that she used to unearth her own truth, tools that opened her up to being a more authentic feminist and purpose-driven matriarchal leader.
A Renaissance of Our Own gives us the courage to look at the world and say I want something different. It serves as a reminder of the power and possibility of reimagining a life that feels right, all the way down to the marrow of your bones.
