Zinzi Clemmons on the Complicated Notion of ‘Freedom’

Zinzi Clemmons on the Complicated Notion of ‘Freedom’

From KQED's Forum by KQED

June 8, 2026 · 55 min

About this episode

Zinzi Clemmons discusses her essay collection 'Freedom' and the complexities of freedom for marginalized groups today.

In her new essay collection, “Freedom,” novelist and UC Davis creative writing director Zinzi Clemmons examines what freedom means in “a world buckling from the consequences of centuries of interlocking injustices.” She grapples with the complicated legacies of Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama and the #MeToo Movement — and explains why she’s no longer an Afropessimist. Clemmons joins us to talk about what it means to consider freedom today for Black Americans, women and oppressed people around the world. Guests: Zinzi Clemmons, director of creative writing, UC Davis; author of the novel “What We Lose” and the new essay collection “Freedom" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Guest: Zinzi Clemmons

Topics covered

  • freedom
  • Black Americans
  • women's rights
  • oppression
  • interlocking injustices
  • Afropessimism
  • social justice

Keywords

  • freedom
  • Zinzi Clemmons
  • UC Davis
  • Black Americans
  • women
  • oppressed people
  • interlocking injustices
  • #MeToo
  • Nelson Mandela
  • Barack Obama

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UC Davis

Books & works: Freedom, What We Lose

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