Attending Author Talks: Dr. Beverly Guy Sheftall Book Launch (2 points) - (Jaina McKoy Class of 2028)

    On September 9th, I had the honor of attending the author talk for the book release of Black! Feminist! Free! by Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall. The event was hosted by the Women’s Research and Resource Center (WRRC) here at Spelman, and it also featured Black Feminist Writing by Stephine Y. Evans, a professor at Georgia State University. Walking into the experience, I hoped to gain more insight into Dr. Guy-Sheftall, given the fact that she was a prominent author during our ADW courses in our first year. I wanted to put a face to the name that held so much weight. Honestly, I was still a bit baffled that someone so honorable was not so far out of reach.

    The main theme of the event was the WRRC giving Dr. Guy-Sheftall her flowers for all her hard work and accolades while she was still here to enjoy them, and I could immediately sense the closeness of the department and the high regard in which they hold one another. One of the students who spoke on stage mentioned how she met Dr. Guy-Sheftall just sitting on one of the couches in the lounge of the center, and that interaction dissuaded the high pedestal that she had subconsciously imagined Dr. Guy-Sheftall to be upon. I deeply agree with this sentiment because when someone is constantly talked about highly as a result of their contributions to society, it is easy to separate oneself from them, as if their actions made them otherworldly or different from the average person. However, hearing everyone recant stories of their time with Dr. Guy-Sheftall and seeing her talk on that stage reminded me that, above all else, she is human, just like me and the rest of us, reaffirming that all that she accomplished is possible for anyone who is dedicated to putting in the work. I left the talk eager to return. I developed a newfound desire to visit the Women’s Research and Resource Center and tap into this previously ignored resource, which is rich in primary sources of Black feminism. It is ironic to think about the fact that I attend an all-women’s HBCU, yet I have not participated in any black feminist events prior to this date. So, moving forward, I plan to keep an eye out for events hosted by WRRC or the Afrekete organization, so that I can utilize and enjoy these unique spaces before I leave Spelman.

Jaina McKoy

Class of 2028