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Full Name and Common Aliases


Sarah Schulman is an American author, playwright, and AIDS activist.

Birth and Death Dates


Born on June 27, 1958.

Nationality and Profession(s)


American, Author, Playwright, Professor, Activist

Early Life and Background


Sarah Schulman grew up in a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York. Her father was an engineer, and her mother was a painter. Schulman's childhood was marked by social activism; she attended a school that encouraged community involvement and social justice. This upbringing instilled in her a strong sense of empathy and a desire to make a difference.

Major Accomplishments


Schulman has written over 20 books, including novels, plays, essays, and memoirs. Her work often explores themes of identity, politics, and human relationships. Some notable titles include "Rage and Time" (1990), "People in Trouble" (1993), and "Empathy" (2017). She has also been a vocal advocate for AIDS activism, working closely with organizations such as ACT UP.

Notable Works or Actions


Schulman's most notable works often blur the lines between fiction and nonfiction. Her novels frequently tackle real-world issues like politics, identity, and social justice, while her plays focus on human relationships and emotions. One of her most famous novels is "Empathy," a semi-autobiographical work that explores her experiences with AIDS activism.

Impact and Legacy


Schulman's contributions to literature and activism have had a lasting impact. Her writing often challenges readers to confront their own biases and preconceptions, fostering empathy and understanding. Through her advocacy for AIDS activists, she helped raise awareness about the disease and push for policy changes. Schulman has also taught at various institutions, including the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Sarah Schulman's work is widely quoted and remembered due to her unique ability to capture the complexities of human experience. Her writing often combines elements of fiction and nonfiction, making it both accessible and thought-provoking. As a vocal advocate for social justice, she has inspired countless individuals to engage with the issues of their time. Through her activism and literary contributions, Schulman continues to inspire readers and challenge societal norms.

Quotes by Sarah Schulman

When one party has been significantly hurt by the violent behaviors of parents, long before becoming half of a couple in adulthood, sometimes the partner is made to take responsability for the damage done by the parents. The partner is then charged with creating the fantastical ‘safe space”.
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When one party has been significantly hurt by the violent behaviors of parents, long before becoming half of a couple in adulthood, sometimes the partner is made to take responsability for the damage done by the parents. The partner is then charged with creating the fantastical ‘safe space”.
No one with power in America “comes around.” They always have to be forced into positive change.
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No one with power in America “comes around.” They always have to be forced into positive change.
Just as unresolved, formerly subordinated or traumatized individuals can collude with or identify with bullies, so can unresolved, formerly subordinated or traumatized groups of people identify with the supremacy of the state. In both cases, the lack of recognition that the past is not the present leads to the newly acquired power to punish rather than to the self-transformation necessary to resolve conflict and produce justice.
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Just as unresolved, formerly subordinated or traumatized individuals can collude with or identify with bullies, so can unresolved, formerly subordinated or traumatized groups of people identify with the supremacy of the state. In both cases, the lack of recognition that the past is not the present leads to the newly acquired power to punish rather than to the self-transformation necessary to resolve conflict and produce justice.
As Will Burton says, “pain has a story, a narrative,” and knowing it reveals human complexity which is an invitation to decency. When we try to understand, we discover causes, origins, and consequences about each other and our selves.
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As Will Burton says, “pain has a story, a narrative,” and knowing it reveals human complexity which is an invitation to decency. When we try to understand, we discover causes, origins, and consequences about each other and our selves.
The past is never dead. It is not even past.” – WILLIAM FAULKNER.
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The past is never dead. It is not even past.” – WILLIAM FAULKNER.
My thesis is that at many levels of human interaction there is the opportunity to conflate discomfort with threat, to mistake internal anxiety for exterior danger, and in turn to escalate rather than resolve.
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My thesis is that at many levels of human interaction there is the opportunity to conflate discomfort with threat, to mistake internal anxiety for exterior danger, and in turn to escalate rather than resolve.
People who are being punished for doing nothing, for having normative conflict, or for resisting unjustified situations, need the help of other people.
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People who are being punished for doing nothing, for having normative conflict, or for resisting unjustified situations, need the help of other people.
I have come to understand that the same action of unjustified escalation most often comes from one of two positions: Supremacy, or Trauma. And in realizing this, I am surprised by the similar behaviors expressed by these two divergent experiences.
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I have come to understand that the same action of unjustified escalation most often comes from one of two positions: Supremacy, or Trauma. And in realizing this, I am surprised by the similar behaviors expressed by these two divergent experiences.
Anti-violence politics, along with other revolutionary impulses, changed from a focus on working to transform patriarchy, racism, and poverty to cooperation and integration with the police. This has proven to be a significant turn because the police are, ironically, the embodiment of patriarchy, racism, and the enforcement of the US class system. John.
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Anti-violence politics, along with other revolutionary impulses, changed from a focus on working to transform patriarchy, racism, and poverty to cooperation and integration with the police. This has proven to be a significant turn because the police are, ironically, the embodiment of patriarchy, racism, and the enforcement of the US class system. John.
Then they went on to discuss other things because there is always something more to a person than what somebody else does to them.
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Then they went on to discuss other things because there is always something more to a person than what somebody else does to them.
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