By B. Wahru Cleveland
When I took on the bookstore project I only took on a building and some boxes of books and a dream of having a bookstore in Oklahoma City. To be clearer, the dreams may have been similar, but my dreams were not the same.
It first starts with definitions of community. I am a black woman, womanist, feminist, diverse sexual orientation person. My life’s experiences are deeply connected to culture and struggle, as well as my woman identity. I identify with strong women who may or may not be lesbian. They are smart, articulate, handy, self-assured, of strong will, able to get up when knocked down, women. My mother is such a woman, as are many minority women leaders. I could not imagine a successful lesbian bookstore at the time in Oklahoma. And it would not have included all of me and my identity, or all of my women sheros. I would have supported a lesbian bookstore, and did lend my support to the women whose idea it was to start La Salle De Femmes, but I would have supported it more as an alternative bookstore.
Many of those who helped me get Herland open seemed to share my vision and change of direction. So, Herland, in fact, opened as a woman’s bookstore that addressed all issues, pertinent to women, including lesbianism. I am wanting this to be clear because some members of the lesbian community have felt left out of Herland “herstory.” This need not be the case. Herland is still alive and there is still more to be done.
Why non-profit women’s center instead of a bookstore? I still remembered the women’s center on Western, and the great work of those women, and, I was not in it for the profit anyway. Although, sometime later, I did get some of the money from the original fundraisers, I used money from my regular job to open Herland and to keep her open. I also continued with the music productions and returned any profits to Herland. There was so much to be done. I needed more help and Herland was pushing for growth. The non-profit approach seemed to be the way to get volunteers and the funds needed for expansion.
The non-profit women’s center approach, I think, is why Herland is still going. I feel that the initial attempt to reach into the women’s community for diversity is what held her up. When I started looking for board members to initiate the non-profit process I asked women who were in the Women’s Political Caucus and NOW if they would serve. I thought that a merger of members from Herland, NOW, and the Political Caucus would represent a powerful force in Oklahoma. I still feel that, in addition to those who identify as lesbian, more feminist, womanist, woman-caring, non-lesbian, women who are not willing or ready to declare, and women who don’t care what you want to label them, is what is needed.
I love you, Herland, and I love this journey. May your future be bright and strong. May your leaders be wise, and may you live long.
After a successful run, the Herland Book Club is turning into Video Night. Join us at 7 pm on Friday, March 26th, for the movie Living with Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100. In this film, first aired on the Sundance Channel, Director Yvonne Welbon uses interviews, photographs, archival footage, and dazzling dramatic re-creations to weave a touching tale of Ellis’s long life and rich times: her first crush, her 30 years with a companion called “Babe,” and their move to Detroit. There Ellis became one of the first women in the United States to own her own printing business, and their home became a popular Midwest party spot and haven from racism for African-American lesbians and gays long before Stonewall and the modern civil rights movement.
Herland and the Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus (OGLPC) are joining together to host a dance-a gala evening, a spring fling, an April Fool’s Ball to chase away the late-winter blues-on Saturday, April 3, 2004 from 8 - 11 pm. It will be held in Daniel Hall, First Unitarian Church, NW 13th and Dewey, OKC. We are keeping the ticket price at a ridiculous $5, because we want you there!