CREATING PARTNERSHIPS FOR CHANGE - ALLIANCES AND BETRAYALS IN THE RACIAL POLITICS OF 2 FEMINIST ORGANIZATIONS

The author examines the social construction of racial-ethnic identity and expectations for alliances based on identity in two feminist organ izations. She considers the conditions in which assumed alliances work and fail, finding that race played a different role in the search for friendship and political connection among white women and among women of color. Women of color saw racial alliances as crucial in settings dominated by whites and often felt betrayed when alliances failed. Whi te women did not speak of their connections with one another as racial alliances, nor did they express betrayal when they failed. When assum ed alliances failed, women were often surprised by unanticipated cross -racial connections. Such connections provided insight to the politica lly constructed nature of all alliances, even those based on identitie s. These insights, created in and through the differences beween these activists, represent the opportunity lar chosen alliances, what June Jordan calls ''partnerships for change.''