Interview: Alicia Garza on ‘The Purpose of Power’

How to create sustainable revolution and be kind to yourself

Alicia Garza, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement wrote a book, The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart, which left me being kinder to myself. Her words never made me feel guilty about the times I could have and should have spoken up, or left, or complained, or campaigned. To her, it didn’t matter that I had once been afraid to be unapologetically Black, brave, and absolute in my love of myself and my people.

Garza’s masterful guide to sustainable revolutions taught me:

· How to understand power

· How to get power

· How to measure power

· How to keep power

· The language of articulate power

I spoke to her about it for ZORA.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

ZORA: Why did you write this book?

Alicia Garza: I wanted to open the curtains so people can see what it takes to build movements like this. I’ve been asked so many times: “how do [you] turn the hashtag into a movement?” And I hope this book tells people that’s not how it works. I mean honestly, so…