Colonize This! Young Women of Color on Today’s Feminism

The second edition of this compilation by editors Hernández (A Cup of Water Under My Bed) and Rehman (Corona) includes nine powerful new narratives from young people in addition to stories from the original 2002 version. The first reflected the state of America post–9/11, and this new collection adds perspectives from young activists in America today. Each essay is compelling in its own right, with personal reflections on the writers’ experiences with family, medical systems, sexual harassment, community organizing, education, friendships, and more. Collectively the volume is readable and memorable, asking us to consider identity as a major force in many people’s lives, affecting their choices, opportunities, and challenges, as they face and interact with systems and other individuals. The various sections address broad themes such as family and nationality, focusing on perspectives seldom heard from in mainstream media.