Day 12. Grace Lee Boggs Revolutionary Philosopher.
Grace Lee Boggs was a force of nature — a Chinese American philosopher, writer, and activist whose work across more than seven decades reshaped what it means to fight for justice in America. From labor struggles to Black liberation, from community gardening to radical education, Grace believed that revolution was not just about protest — it was about transforming ourselves and our communities at the deepest level.
“Love isn’t about what we did yesterday; it’s about what we do today and tomorrow and the day after.”
— Grace Lee Boggs
A Lifetime of Radical Change
Born in 1915 in Providence, Rhode Island, to Chinese immigrant parents, Grace Lee Boggs earned her PhD in philosophy from Bryn Mawr College. In a time when few women — let alone women of color — were welcomed in academia, Grace turned her sharp mind toward activism.
Moving to Detroit in the 1950s, she became immersed in the Black Power and labor movements, eventually marrying James Boggs, a Black activist, writer, and auto worker. Together, they became an iconic organizing duo in the fight for civil rights, workers’ rights, and community-based change.
Grace’s vision went beyond political slogans — she argued that true revolution was about transforming our relationships with one another, our cities, and ourselves.
The Power of Ideas and Grassroots Action
Grace’s activism spanned:
- Civil Rights & Black Liberation — organizing alongside Malcolm X and other movement leaders in Detroit
- Labor Rights — advocating for auto workers and confronting corporate greed
- Community Empowerment — creating spaces for youth leadership, urban farming, and local economies
- Radical Education — founding the Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership, which continues her legacy today
She authored several powerful works, including “Living for Change” and “The Next American Revolution,” where she challenged us to imagine a society grounded in love, justice, and community care.
“You cannot change any society unless you take responsibility for it, unless you see yourself as belonging to it and responsible for changing it.”
— Grace Lee Boggs
Learn More
Explore Grace Lee Boggs’ powerful story and philosophy:
📖 The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century, by Grace Lee Boggs
🎥 American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs (2013 documentary) — a beautiful, intimate portrait of her life and ideas
🖥️ Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership — her lasting movement home in Detroit
📖 Living for Change: An Autobiography, by Grace Lee Boggs
Why Grace’s Legacy Matters
Grace Lee Boggs reminds us that activism is not a phase — it’s a lifelong practice rooted in love, reflection, and community. She teaches us that Asian American identities have long been intertwined with Black liberation, labor rights, and revolutionary struggle — and that our movements are stronger when built on solidarity and imagination.
Her life calls us to ask not only what we are fighting against, but what kind of world we are creating in its place.
Keep the Vision Alive
Celebrate Grace Lee Boggs and her revolutionary wisdom! 📚✊🏽🌱
Hashtags: #31DaysOfAPIHeritage #GraceLeeBoggs #LivingForChange #RevolutionaryLove #AAPIActivism #DetroitRadicals #SolidarityIsPower #AsianAmericanHistory #BoggsCenter #LoveAsAction
Asian and Pacific Islander heritage is not monolithic. It stretches across dozens of nations, languages, histories, and spiritual traditions. In honoring these figures, we also honor the beautiful plurality of cultures, family traditions, and lived experiences that make up API communities in America.
For more information and access to other events, sign our Guestbook!
Discover more from SepulvedaUU
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.