Mantra: “turning the world all over”

Pat Parker went from being a member of the Black Panther Party to being a central figure in the lesbian poetry scene in the midst of profoundly loving and unfortunately short life. An activist always, whether it was through her poetry, organizing or helping a large number of Bay Area lesbians with all sorts of odd-jobs because she was (as she said) “the dyke with the truck,” Pat Parker was also close friends with Audre Lorde and they mailed each other letters across the continent.  Our mantra comes from Pat Parker’s declaration in movement in Black that “Once upon a time there was a dream. A dream of women turning the world all over.  And it still lives for those who would be sisters.”  That’s a little too long for this mantra, but that context is important.  Pat Parker made space in her poetry for the ongoing dream of feminism as a means to transform the whole world.  So as we repeat “turning the world all over” we ask you to activate your revolutionary spirit.  Your love, your breathing transforms the world right where you are.