Interview with Wahru Cleveland
- Title
- Interview with Wahru Cleveland
- Description
- In this interview Barbara Wahru Cleveland shares her personal experiences surrounding the founding of Herland, a feminist bookstore and resource center in Oklahoma City. The interview delves into her involvement in a collective effort to open the store, which began when a group of women, including Barbara, worked together to transform an old building into a community space for women’s literature, music, and activism. She recalls the challenges of getting the store started, such as negotiating with the building's owner, who was initially hesitant, and organizing work parties to renovate the space. The interview highlights the collective spirit of the project, with women contributing in various ways, including designing T-shirts, setting up book collections, and coordinating music resources. Barbara also reflects on the broader context of women's activism in the early 1980s, particularly the push for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and the energy surrounding women's rights at the time. She recalls the involvement of local women’s organizations in addressing issues such as domestic violence and the lack of women in positions like police officers and doctors. Herland itself became an important center for feminist activism, hosting concerts, providing resources, and offering a space for women to organize and exchange ideas. While Barbara initially didn’t set out to run the bookstore, she ended up taking on the role, driven by the collective support and recognition of her contributions to the project. Throughout the interview, Barbara emphasizes the power of community and the importance of creating spaces that support women’s rights, empowerment, and activism.
- interviewee
- Wahru Cleveland
- Date
- 2016
- uri
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SprQgWYc7XA&list=PLfobseV2uSi-XjCPXH3TsWYmJEnmvY1N6&index=8
- Item sets
- Herland Oral History Project
- Site pages
- Oral History Interviews
