Where We Stand

The Margellos World Republic of Letters

By: Djamila Ribeiro, Padma Viswanathan - translated by, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - foreword by

Narrated by: Lisa Reneé Pitts

The instant bestseller from Djamila Ribeiro that sparked a major Black feminist movement in Brazil

In a society shaped by the legacies of enslavement, white supremacy, and sexism, who has the right to a voice? In this elegant essay, Djamila Ribeiro offers a compelling intervention into contemporary discussions of power and identity: the concept of "speaking place." A crucial component of conversations on race and gender in Brazil, speaking place is the idea that everyone has a social position in the world and that what we are able to say, and how it is received by others, depends on it. Ribeiro traces the history of Black feminist thought through several centuries, examining the ways that Black women have been silenced, ignored, and punished for speaking.

Building on feminist standpoint theory, and in conversation with the works of Sojourner Truth, bell hooks, Audre Lorde, and others, Ribeiro invites all of us to recognize where we stand, to imagine geographies different from those we've inherited, and to speak a more humane world into being.

©2019 Djamila Ribeiro; English translation copyright 2024 by Padma Viswanathan; foreword copyright 2024 by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (P)2024 Tantor

Must read

Djamila's work is an essential read for anyone trying to understand the complexities of existing systems of oppression and how they have shaped our societies by universalizing truth. The concept of "the speaking place", which Ribeiro explains clearly and objectively, explains how our discourses are informed by the shared experiences of the groups that we belong to. She points out that "speaking place" is not about individual points of view but the social locus from where the discourse is created. Djamila intentionally uses Brazilian thinkers as references, while also mentioning works by European and American philosophers. The audio book is great, has a lovely pace and is easy to listen to. I finished it in one weekend. Highly recommended!