Opening Program: Bookshelf Residency - Feminist Press
On the occasion of the opening of ICA LA’s Bookshelf Residency with Feminist Press, we are pleased to present an afternoon program to celebrate the 55th Anniversary of the press and the debut novel by Louise Meriwether Daddy Was A Number Runner. Originally published by Feminist Press in 1970 with a foreword by James Baldwin, the book is heralded as a modern classic depicting the childhood of a young Black girl in 1930s Harlem as she discovers, through family, friendships, and awakening political consciousness, the power to survive under pressure.
We welcome Cheryl Hill, the literary executor of Louise Meriwether’s estate, to present the latest edition of the novel, Meriwether’s literary legacy, and the author’s life combining art and activism.
Since 1970, Feminist Press has published books that ignite movements and social transformation. Florence Howe and a collective of women of diverse backgrounds, based around Goucher College in Maryland, founded a crucial publishing component of second wave feminism that continues today with the goal of lifting up insurgent and marginalized voices to build a world where everyone can recognize themselves in a book.
This program is part of the national project Fall of Freedom.
3PM—4PM: Public Program - Celebrating Louise Meriwether with Feminist Press.
4PM—6PM: Reception.
Fall of Freedom is an urgent call to the arts community to unite in defiance of authoritarian forces sweeping the nation. Our Democracy is under attack. Threats to free expression are rising. Dissent is being criminalized. Institutions and media have been recast as mouthpieces of propaganda.
This Fall, we are activating a nationwide wave of creative resistance. Beginning November 21–22, 2025, galleries, museums, libraries, comedy clubs, theaters, and concert halls across the country will host exhibitions, performances, and public events that channel the urgency of this moment. Fall of Freedom is an open invitation to artists, creators, and communities to take part—and to celebrate the experiences, cultures, and identities that shape the fabric of our nation.
Art matters. Artists are a threat to American fascism.
To learn more and get involved, visit the #FallOfFreedom website.
