Raya Dunayevskaya

Raya Dunayevskaya
Born
Raya Shpigel

May 1, 1910
DiedJune 9, 1987(1987-06-09) (aged 77)
Other namesFreddie Forest; Rae Spiegel
MovementJohnson–Forest Tendency
Philosophical work
Era20th-century philosophy
RegionWestern philosophy
SchoolWestern Marxism, Marxist humanism, Hegelian Marxism, Marxist feminism
Main interestsSocial theory, social revolution, social movements, dialectical philosophy, Marxist praxis, women's liberation
Notable ideasState capitalism, movement from practice that is itself a form of theory, absolute negativity as new beginning

Raya Dunayevskaya (born Raya Shpigel, Рая Шпигель; May 1, 1910 – June 9, 1987), later Rae Spiegel, also known by the pseudonym Freddie Forest, was the American founder of the philosophy of Marxist humanism in the United States. At one time Leon Trotsky's secretary, she later split with him and ultimately founded the organization News and Letters Committees and was its leader until her death.