What Ive learned in the last two and half years is that two things can be true at the same time. There is an outright war against Black women that challenges Americas opinion of itself, and were also living in a time to redefine what American society can and should look like.
Black feminists are making tremendous offerings in the culture right now. Scholars and writers like Patricia Hill Collins, Joan Morgan, and the late bell hooks have long understood that oppression and injustice are perpetuated through cultural practices and law. At its core, Black feminism is an ideology of liberation rooted in Black womens experiences. Black feminist theory is now a central part of how we all make sense of the world.
Among the fruitful work available on Black feminism, these five books stand out for me. They also share two common themes: a celebration of marginalized Black women and the rejection of respectability politics.
Abolition. Feminism. Now.
Angela Davis, Gina Dent, Erica R. Meiners, and Beth E. Richie
If youve ever had the privilege of hearing Angela Davis speak, then youll want to devour this book. Its like hearing her drop gems. It takes a deep dive into abolition and how it continually shapes how this country moves politically. Also, how abolition is our best defense against endemic forms of state and interpersonal gender and sexual violence. Its an important genealogy of abolition feminist movements, including Rosa Parks anti-rape work that incorporated an analysis of state violence.
Her work pointed out similarities in reformist efforts to build new jails that showed up in the 1930s with the opening of the New York Womens House of Detention. It uses the same language used in 2019 with the plan to build new borough-based jails. The authors remind us that our abolition feminism must be anti-capitalist. It must continue to document many campaigns, collectives, tools, and resources that have sought to do just that. Its an incredible archive that reminds us that we are always building on the work that came before us.
The Sisters are Alright
Tamara Winfrey Harris
The Sisters are Alright exposes Americas historical and ongoing contempt for the sisters. She directly identifies stereotype after stereotype, from whitewashed beauty standards to the angry-Black-woman clichs, and calls for the humanity of Black women. The book is tough reading because Harris has collected all the headlines, criticisms, and biased studies that have been hurled at Black women over the years. It makes you wonder how any of us survive.
Yet, I believe that is the point of this book. In general, Black women are doubly burdened with racial and gender discrimination. When we show up in the world, we are often seen through a veil of negative stereotypes. This limits our opportunities in education and employment, threatens our health, and makes it difficult to even receive help.
Harris describes the deadly consequences Black women face. This includes examples like the Detroit homeowner who shot Renisha McBride in the face when she knocked on his door to get help after a car accident. I wouldnt say that this is an uplifting book. Its Harris rejection of all the notions and labels that society places on Black women. Truth can sometimes be a hard pill to swallow, but it must go down.
Carefree Black Girls
Zeba Blay
In 2013, Zeba Blay was one of the first people to coin the viral term #carefreeblackgirls on Twitter. It was, as she says, a way to carve out a space of celebration and freedom for Black women online. This is a collection of essays on the carefree Black girls we identify within society and pop culture. So, artists like Lizzo, Cardi B., Beyonce, and Nicki Minaj make appearances. I found this to be a beautiful collection of essays that explores the images and depictions of Black women and girls throughout our culture.
This book tackles subjects like racism, colorism, fatphobia, mental health, sexuality, and what it truly means to be a carefree black girl, or if this is even possible. Blay also includes her personal thoughts and experiences and how they relate to these subjects. This book is not groundbreaking; these subjects have been explored before. The difference is that it is one of the more honest works on these subjects.
I saw a lot of my own experiences reflected in Blays. Im sure that I wont be the only one. This was moving and timely. I loved it from the beginning to the end.Blay writes with so much insight and introspection that I could not help but nod in agreement as she spoke about feelings Ive had about my own body and life.
Misogynoir Transformed: Black Womens Digital Resistance
Moya Bailey
Bailey first coined the term misogynoir in 2010. She defines it as the ways anti-Black and misogynistic representation shape broad ideas about Black women, particularly in culture and digital spaces. The book is very research-heavy and definitely takes on an academic approach. There is a lot to digest. But Baileys work surrounding racial and gender justice for Black women makes this book a must-read.
It allows readers to learn about Black women, non-binary, and agender peoples digital activism by creating an archive of whats been done so far, what could improve, and what is yet to be done overall. She also discusses how police Black men to even Black masculine-of-center women perform actions that can damage the view of Black women. Its a heavy read, but its enlightening. Its an important piece of work that deserves to be read.
Black Feminist Thought
Patricia Hill Collins
Collins uses her personal and intellectual experiences to confront how Black womens thoughts are misrepresented or excluded within mainstream epistemology. In the book, Collins states that: Black womens experiences have never fit the logic of work in the public sphere juxtaposed to family obligations in the private sphere.
The assumption that all women experience public and private life in the same way is challenged by Collins. She provides a clear picture of how race and class affect personal and public experiences. She speaks on the importance, as a form of resistance, for marginalized groups of women to have space to be heard and to reclaim and define their own knowledge about themselves.
An example of this is the Beyonc visual album Lemonade. The song Sorry can be interpreted as an unapologetically Black refusal of the traditional male domination, and Formation can be a metaphor used to call women to come together. There are common experiences that groups of women share, and they must have a platform on which to understand and interpret themselves.
This reading list will certainly help educate on the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality, and introduce foundational concepts that sparked larger movements. These books have richness, beauty, as well as knowledge for Black women.
See the rest here:
5 Books That Should Be On Your Black Feminist Reading List - Black Girl Nerds
- Student-Led Working Group to Abolish GUPD Calls for Greater Community Involvement - Georgetown University The Hoya - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Nobel Peace Prize - Wikipedia - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Albanese government neuters ABCC ahead of abolition - The Australian Financial Review - October 28th, 2022 [October 28th, 2022]
- 3 Good Reasons You Should Learn More About Angela Davis - Because of Them We Can - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Eradication of forced labor -- striking example of political will - The Korea Herald - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Intrusion impending: what contractors need to know about proposed abolition of the ABCC - Lexology - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- What Does It Mean To 'Abolish the Family'? - ArtReview - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- UN experts call for complete abolition of death penalty as 'only viable path' - UN News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Opinion | Social justice work must continue - UI The Daily Iowan - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Rank-and-file action committees independent of IG Metall union needed to defend all jobs at all sites - WSWS - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Japan plans to abolish health insurance cards in fall 2024 | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis - - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Are you buying the copaganda? - mlk50.com - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- 'Crown Jewel of Criminal Justice System': Voters In Five States Will Address Legal Loophole That Still Allows Slavery - Atlanta Black Star - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- TUPD aims to connect with Tufts community over coffee - Tufts Daily - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Ex-condemned prisoner relives 11-year wait for hangmans noose - The Herald - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The Ongoing Fight Against Femicides and Violence Against Women in the Caribbean - Rolling Stone - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- At Tate Britain, Hew Locke Powerfully Reckons with Colonialist Histories and Their Lingering Aftereffects - ARTnews - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Presentation of the Annual Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights - World - ReliefWeb - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Sanitation staff on strike over salary delay in Delhi - The New Indian Express - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Human Rights Watch Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Burundi - Human Rights Watch - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- UN experts warn of associated torture and cruel punishment - OHCHR - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- How Lead Belly twice won freedom from prison through his music - Far Out Magazine - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Why don't Popes ever win the Nobel Peace Prize? - Crux Now - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Hunting: Where the end began - Reaction - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Greece is committed to reforming its mass media and protecting personal data - Hellenic News of America - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Standing against war and nuclear catastrophe: lessons from Port Kembla - Red Flag - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Liz Truss warned tax cuts like hers could lead to 'boom and bust' in unearthed 2018 clip - The Mirror - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Opinion | The Puppets and the Puppet Masters - Common Dreams - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Intersecting Drug Policy and Abolition: A Conversation - TalkingDrugs - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Rival parties to lock horns over Gender Ministry in government organization reform plan - The Korea Herald - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Reforms, roll-outs and freezes in the tax and benefit system | Institute for Fiscal Studies - ifs.org.uk - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Kwasi Kwarteng to bring forward planned fiscal statement in another U-turn as it happened - The Guardian - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- IR35 reforms repeal: How it stands to benefit the tech sectors SMEs and contractors - ComputerWeekly.com - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- The Future of Truth - Portsmouth Daily Times - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Governor Hochul Names Canal Corporation Vessel in Honor of the Inspirational Life and Legacy of Harriet Tubman - ny.gov - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Tory MPs hit back after threats issued to those opposing 45p tax rate abolition - The Guardian - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- John Hood: Don't That Just Beat All? Neuse News - Neuse News - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Scrapping inheritance tax is a terrible idea - The Spectator - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Reeves: Government instincts in mini-Budget were to cut taxes for wealthiest - LabourList - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- The Biggest Exhibitions To See In London And Beyond: Autumn 2022 - Londonist - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Actually, Black Mermaid Folklore Has Been Around Long Before Disneys The Little Mermaid - Yahoo Life - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Build solidarity with rail workers fight! Help strengthen, expand the labor movement! The Militant - The Militant - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- The Most Absolute Abolitionnew book explores abolition and lives of escaped slaves - Socialist Worker - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Democracy Cant Be Reduced to Voting in 2022 We Must Build the Future We Want - Truthout - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Christophe Ferrari denounces the announced abolition of the CVAE - US Sports - US Sports - - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Child labour: Nashik tribals struggle to survive, give kids to goatherds for Rs 10K - The New Indian Express - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Library Takeover Returns: Submit Your Application! | City of Madison - City of Madison, Wisconsin - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Do Britain and the world really need a king? - People's World - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Soka Gakkai International's Nuclear Abolition Work - Tricycle - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Clinton nonprofit funneled $75,000 to 'defund the police' group: report - New York Post - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Cops and Prosecutors Truly Work the Same Side: Ingrid Raphal and Melissa Gira Grant on their FOV Doc They Wont Call It Murder - Filmmaker Magazine - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- The Iran Man Behind the Nuclear Curtain Jewish Policy Center - Jewish Policy Center - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Dorothy Roberts Tried to Warn Us - New York Magazine - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Hear Me Now: The Black Potters Of Old Edgefield, South Carolina - Antiques And The Arts Weekly - Antiques and the Arts Online - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- The Spin | Zimbabwe's upset win should spur England to be good global citizens - The Guardian - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Letter of the week: The Proms deserve better - The New Statesman - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Why We Should Abolish the Family Current Affairs - Current Affairs - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- On the Need for Honest Abolitionists. | Jeff Hood - Patheos - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Chile rejects a progressive constitution with big changes - NPR - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Where Solidarity, Abolition, and Queer History Meet - The Nation - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Addressing the sugar crisis long term - Manila Bulletin - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Experts react: The United Kingdom has a new prime minister. What should the world expect from Liz Truss? - Atlantic Council - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Explained Books | An eminent cardiac surgeon's account of his work, and of Kashmir - The Indian Express - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Formerly incarcerated women of color face worse health in later life | OUPblog - OUPblog - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- The crime against humanity that is the modern OS desktop, and how to kill it - The Register - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Kenya: William Ruto's triumph, By Reuben Abati - Premium Times - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- What shall we do with the climate refugees? - Trinidad & Tobago Express Newspapers - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Digitisation of records, land reforms turn 'Naya J&K' hi-tech - Rising Kashmir - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- What year was slavery abolished in the US? - Fox News - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- The United Nations Human Rights Council met for its 50th Regular Session from June 13 to July 8, 2022. - WCADP - World Coalition Against the Death... - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Special Tax Regimes for Mobile Individuals and Their Impact on the EU's Single Market - Bloomberg Tax - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Undergraduate Summer Research Highlights - Newsroom | University of St. Thomas - University of St. Thomas Newsroom - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- A safe and healthy working environment is now a human right - Workplace Insight - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Haryana dismisses alleged abolition of teachers post as baseless - The Statesman - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- New book explores wicked problems facing peace studies scholars and practitioners // Department of Political Science // University of Notre Dame -... - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Universities Are Plundering Cities. How Can This Relationship Change? - Truthout - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Edinburgh should apologise for role in slavery and colonialism, says academic - STV News - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- The inside story of the CIA v Russia from cold war conspiracy to 'black' propaganda in Ukraine - The Conversation Indonesia - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Radical gender theory has now made its way into more than 4,000 US schools - Home - WSFX - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Infanticide: Excitement as 5-year-old reunites with family in FCT - Blueprint Newspapers Limited - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]