There’s a relatively new student organization on campus, and they’re all about pushing the envelope and focusing on what their president calls “radical love and compassion.” Panthers for Black Feminism is an organization that uses a black queer feminist lens to analyze political and social issues.
Their official purpose is to “raise the level of cultural competency on Georgia State’s campus via a Black queer feminist lens,” and their mission is to “bridge the gap between ‘Atlanta’ issues and ‘student’ issues in order to reduce harm engendered by capitalism.”
According to organization president and co-founder Toni Moore, Panthers for Black Feminism “focus on trans, gender non-conforming, and LGBQ people. Our purpose is to get students to think critically about the information they’re receiving in these college classes, and figure out ways to use that knowledge outside of just, like, getting a job.”
The Panthers for Black Feminism challenge the norm and encourage different ways of thought. Moore mentioned that at a panel, a member said “capitalism stunts our imagination.”
“A lot of people are spending so much time trying to survive that we never have any time to think of how [our] lives can be different, or maybe they can think of how, but they don’t have the time to organize and actually fix those problems,” Moore said. “People can’t always imagine new ways of living and existing because they’re busy working, like, 40-plus hour work weeks and taking care of kids. And then after that, they have to try and care for their own mental health while being exhausted and living in poverty. So, maybe our organization’s purpose is to imagine s---. And then find tangible ways to make our wildest dreams come true.”
Moore’s first year as a member was also the first year of operation for the organization, which is why they’re credited as a co-founder. In a short amount of time, the organization has been working hard to help students with harm reduction programs.
“Last semester, we passed out Plan-B adjacent emergency contraceptives for the freeski … We also had a panel with Faces of Feminism for Trans Day of Remembrance about how the prison system [treats] trans people, how we can work against that, and just a general abolition conversation,” Moore said. “We had someone from Freedom Overground come, which is an organization that focuses on supporting incarcerated trans people … Right now, we’re working with a member of SGA to start some sort of campaign against sexual violence. We’re [also] participating in Trans Week on campus.”
Those who are interested in Panthers for Black Feminism can join on the Panther Involvement Network. However, they also accept honorary members for those who aren’t students or have already graduated.
Members stay connected via GroupMe and there are no member dues. Future members are accepted continuously, and there is no deadline to apply to join. According to Moore, “almost anyone” can join at any time.
“I say ‘almost’ because, I mean, clearly, we have a no-tolerance policy for blatant malice and hatred,” Moore said. “But, like, you don’t have to be a feminist already, you don’t have to be black, you don’t have to be a woman or femme or a queer person. You just have to acknowledge that this is a space that at times will center those voices and narratives, and in everything we do, we will be looking through that lens.”
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