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In a Berkeley Talks podcast episode, UC Berkeley professor Ula Taylor presented her book project exploring the life of Frances M. Beal, a key figure in social justice feminism. Taylor highlighted how Beal’s early experiences, including an illegal abortion at 17 and the pressures of domestic labor, informed her radical politics. The lecture, held on Feb. 19, was part of a series hosted by Berkeley’s Social Science Matrix and co-sponsored by the Departments of Gender and Women’s Studies and African American Studies.

Taylor’s work reconstructs Beal’s political development through a blend of first- and third-person narrative, emphasizing the cumulative impact of her life’s challenges. Beal’s 1969 manifesto 'Double Jeopardy: To Be Black and Female' remains foundational in feminist discourse. Taylor’s approach frames Beal’s activism as a response to intersecting oppressions, including racism, sexism, and economic inequality.

The event also featured remarks from Marion Fourcade, director of Social Science Matrix, who introduced Taylor and outlined upcoming academic panels. Fourcade noted the importance of post-colonial perspectives in graduate student research and announced a March 11 open house for the Matrix BESI program. Taylor, a distinguished professor with multiple publications on African American women’s history, was selected for the teach-in based on public feedback.

Taylor’s lecture coincided with Black History Month, reflecting on its origins and contemporary relevance amid debates over race education. She described her collaboration with Beal, now 86, as a decade-long effort to document her life and political evolution. The project aims to provide a nuanced account of Beal’s activism, linking her personal struggles to broader historical movements like the civil rights era and Black Power.