Top Ranking: A Collection of Articles on Racism and Classism in the Lesbian Community

Title: Top Ranking: A Collection of Articles on Racism and Classism in the Lesbian Community

Author: Gibbs, Joan and Sara Bennett, eds.

Publication: New York: [Joan Gibbs and Sara Bennett at Come!Unity Press], 1980.

Description: Compilation of articles on racism and classism in the lesbian community, including the first appearance in print of Audre Lorde's "An Open Letter to Mary Daly." First edition. All production of this book, including typesetting and printing, was done by the editors Joan Gibbs and Sara Bennett, at Come!Unity Press, a gay anarchist cooperative press in New York City. (While this was printed at Come!Unity Press, the rear wrapper also mentions February 3rd Press.) In blue card wrappers printed in black, with Come!Unity Press printer's mark on front wrapper. 8.25 x 5.25 inches; [4], 148 pages. Moderate sunning to wrappers, light edgewear, and several leaves with spots of soiling. Very Good.

Editor Joan Gibbs (1953-2024) was a Black lesbian and a renowned lawyer, activist, and founder of Dykes Against Racism Everywhere. Among her many accomplishments, she provided legal representation for members of ACT UP, as well as several political prisoners. Co-editor Sara Bennett was a writer and member of Dykes Against Racism Everywhere. The articles in this compilation were submitted by their authors in response to a leaflet distributed by the editors requesting articles about racism and classism in the lesbian community.

Lorde had written "An Open Letter to Mary Daly", her classic critique of white feminism, in 1979, and it was first published in this compilation, prior to appearing, slightly edited, in "This Bridge Called My Back" (1981) and "Sister Outsider" (1984). Gibbs and Lorde would have known each other from their literary work. Gibbs was a co-founder of the magazine "Azalea: A Magazine by Third World Lesbians" (1977-1983), to which Lorde contributed. In addition to Audre Lorde, the following writers also contributed articles to this compilation: Barbara Smith, Beverly Smith, Linda Brown, Cynthia R. Cauthern, Alison Colbert, Anita Cornwell, Karen Johanns, Vickie Mays, Cathy McCandless, Carol Seajay, and Minnie Bruce Pratt. 

Reference: Katherine, Amber L. "'A Too Early Morning': Audre Lorde's 'An Open Letter to Mary Daly' and Daly's Decision." Feminist Interpretations of Mary Daly, edited by Sarah Lucia Hoagland and Marilyn Frye, Pennsylvania State University Press, 2010, p. 294.