I have an academic crush on Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs. I find her nerdiness and her passion to engage directly with communities mad encouraging. The many textures and multidimensional nature of her work very inspirational to my own. I love how she moves from poetry, theory to activism so fluidly. I feel like if more people could move from “academic” to "nonacademic" texts like Gumbs can be much much more accessible than it currently is. Her idea of the Black Feminist Bookmobile and the Real Reading Rainbow are both amazing. Gumbs describes the Queer Mobile Homecoming as, "Mobile Homecoming is an intergenerational experiential archive project that amplifies generations of Queer Black brilliance across the U.S. by honoring and listening to our elders, making media and facilitating workshops, retreats and events". I only wish I can think of  something similar in my own career. Honoring and uplifting texts by Black queer writers is critical. Despite all the dopeness that Alexis embodies, I worry about her livelihood and the danger she may encounter on the road.  She speaks in the video below about someone trying to steal from her bookmobile and about being unnecessarily interrogated and pulled over by the cops. I worry that others fear of Black Girlhood and Freedom will extinguish our routes to liberation before they are fully actualized. I sincerely hope that she is able to stay happy and fulfilled and safe because her work gives me so much life.
​
Despite the many liberatory possibilities that that Dr. Gumbs has sketched out and offered us in her digital space, it is also important to note that digital spaces are never neutral like physical spaces they are racialized and gendered. Dr. Safiya Nobles reminds us of this in her work. The trolls on comments are despicable. Threats of net neutrality and the ever increasing digital divide stalls us from achieving that goal of liberation and truly free space.  Notwithstanding these major concerns, Queer Mobile Homecoming fills me with a lot of hope to the future. When my present feels bleak, I often turn to these dream spaces for much needed solace. 

Queer Mobile Homecoming as Virtual and Physical Dream Space
The Queer Mobile Homecoming is a dual dream space that exists both virtually, online and physically, through the bookmobile vehicle. The idea of building an intergenerational archive for Black Queer people is radical insurgent exercise and a dope dream to build towards. Gumbs attempts to make this experiential project as accessible, participatory and democratic as possible by offering a dual space for all to engage. So grateful to her for having a vision that she brought into fruition. Her dream will allow Black girls, particularly Black Queer young people a space to keep dreaming of a world where they can truly be liberated and free is amazing. Forever grateful to renegade academics like Gumbs who offer us a license to more radically dream.    

Hear Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs explain the Queer Mobile Homecoming in further detail.