Envisioning Folklore Activism

Drawing on her own experiences as a public folklorist and those of others (particularly Gerald Davis and Bernice Johnson Reagon), the author argues for the importance of activist ideals for folklore research and public practice. The concepts of authenticity, authority, and local place are explored as key elements in framing grassroots and community-based folklife practices that seek to address inequalities, challenge injustice, and work for the common good.