Location: Mergenthaler 366

The Program in Racism, Immigration, and Citizenship and the Program for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Johns Hopkins University present a discussion of the recently published volume The Purple Color of Kurdish Politics (Pluto).  

Translated and compiled by a transnational feminist collective, the book is a one-of-a-kind collection of prison writings from more than 20 Kurdish women politicians. It focuses on women’s encounters with Turkish state violence, anti-Kurdish repression, mass incarceration, and highlights the radical transformation of conventional political norms, structures, and practices led by Kurdish women politicians. The collected authors reflect on radical feminist principles and practices, discuss what tactics worked and what didn’t, and explore the ways in which Turkey’s anti-capitalist and socialist movements closely informed their political stances and practices.  

Demonstrating Kurdish women’s ceaseless political determination and refusal to be silenced—even when behind bars—the book ultimately hopes to inspire women living under even the most unjust conditions to engage in collective resistance.  

We will be joined by translators who worked on the project, including: 

• Ronay Bakan (Johns Hopkins University)   
• Emek Ergun (UNC Charlotte)   
• Hazal Hürman (Princeton University)   
• Ruken Isik (American University)   
• Kumru Toktamis (Pratt Institute)   

This event is open to students, faculty, staff, and community members.