[THREAD] Community and our intellectual work during these trying times of #Covid19

Izwe Lethu MaAfrika amahle!

It has been too long and engagement has scare. I suppose this forms part of the slow and unending work of freedom in anycase.

#AzanianWomen #RebelWomenofAfrika

A few sisters have been feeling deprived of intellectual and other forms of community over the weeks past, perhaps even months. And have bern thinking through how this can still be made possible in whatever way. All things considered.

The broader context these private conversations were located, include the seemingly inadequate practice of borrowing from theory outside of the country and continent, in ways where borrowing goes beyond attempts to expand on a particular intellectual tradition (cont)

(cont) and instead take the form of trying to mold our own experience into a framework that was never designed to be able to contain (at least fully) our own moving experience.

Is there a valid case to be made for this? What are we missing or stand to lose which ever way?

Prof Crenshaw's theory of intersectionality and the ways in which it has been used or misused can be an entry point in this conversation, for example. This is of cause a longer conversation for another day, which we will have because it is important we sharpen contradictions.

But the point made here was that in organizing towards the country and continent we desperately need (and deserve), we, daughters of Afrika must perhaps be far more unapologetic about creating theory, as we have said in spaces where we have convened and elsewhere. #AzanianWomen

More recently, (and more relevant to this thread), is sharing a conversation a few of us have been having around #LockdownSouthAfrica and this government's response.

Among other key issues, amaAfrika raised a topical issue which demands further interrogation, particularly in the context of a broader conversation on #Covid19 responses: Alcohol prohibition as a strategy and its effects on Black communities during this time and beyond.

We have many Black scholars and academics from social science disciplines who are trained to make sense of the world and in turn have an ability to help us and our communities make sense of the world. This should be a fair assumption. This political moment not withstanding.

There is a paucity and lack of analysis around this moment in particular. Where are *our* intellectuals? Why is the SA response and its impact on our communities not being unpacked for us in ways that are helpful?

#AzanianWomenRemember #LockdownSouthAfrica #COVID19SouthAfrica