The Black Feminist Reader

This volume brings together ten key essays in the development of black feminism. The selections reflect the literary, social, and political critiques that mark this form of feminist and antiracist thought as unique and transformative. Addressing key themes within cultural and social theory, such as the intersections of gender, sex, race, class, and ideology, the analyses encourage critical thinking about language, culture, and democracy. Organized into two parts, "Literary Theory" and "Social and Political Theory," this Reader explores issues of community, identity, justice, and the marginalization of African American and Caribbean women in literature, society, and political movements. With contributions from male feminists, Marxists, legal scholars and literary, cultural and social theorists, The Black Feminist Reader illustrates both the impressive depth and expansive range of contemporary black feminism. Contributors include: Barbara Christian, Toni Morrison, Hortense J. Spillers, Michael Awkward, Sylvia Wynter, bell hooks, Angela Y. Davis, Patricia Hill Collins, KimberleU Crenshaw and Joy James.

Acknowledgements. Editors′ Introduction. List of Contributors. Part I: Literary Theory: . 1. The Race for Theory: Barbara Christian. 2. "Unspeakable Things Unspoken": The Afro–American Presence in American Literature: Toni Morrison. 3. Mama′s Baby, Papa′s Maybe: An American Grammar Book: Hortense Spillers. 4. A Black Man′s Place in Black Feminist Criticism: Michael Awkward. 5. Beyond Miranda′s Meanings: Un–silencing the ′Demonic Ground′ of ′Caliban′s Woman.′: Sylvia Wynter. Part II: Social/Political Theory: . 6. Black Women: Shaping Feminist Theory: Bell Hooks. 7. Women and Capitalism: Dialectics of Oppression and Liberation: Angela Davis. 8. The Social Construction of Black Feminist Thought: Patricia Hill Collins. 9. Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics: Kimberlé Crenshaw. 10. Radicalising Feminism: Joy James. Appendix: Key Feminist Statements. I. Combahee River Collective, A Black Feminist Statement (1972). II. African American Women in Defense of Ourselves (1991). Part III: Open Letter from Assata Shakur (1998): . Selected Bibliography. Index.

Joy James is Distinguished Visiting Scholar in the Institute for Research in African–American Studies at Columbia University. She is author of Resisting State Violence: Radicalism, Gender & Race in US Culture (1996); Transcending the Talented Tenth: Black Leaders and American Intellectuals (1996), Shadowboxing: Representations of Black Feminist Politics (1999). James is also editor of the Angela Y. Davis Reader (Blackwell Publishers, 1998), States of Confinement: Policing, Detention and Prisons (2000), and co–editor of Spirit, Space & Survival: African American Women In (White) Academe (1993), which received the 1994 Gustavus Myers Human Rights award. T. Denean Sharpley–Whiting is Associate Professor of French and Director of the African American Studies and Research Center at Purdue University. She is author of Frantz Fanon: Conflicts & Feminisms (1997) and Black Venus: Sexualized Savages, Primal Fears and Primitive Narratives in French (1999). She is co–editor of Fanon: A Critical Reader (Blackwell Publishers, 1996) and Spoils of War: Women of Color, Cultures, and Revolutions (1997), which received an honorable mention from the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights in North America in 1997.

"This volume brings together ten essays in the development of black feminism. The selections reflect the literary, social and political critiques that mark this form of feminist and antiracist thought as unique and transformative." Black Issues Book Review "This collection is certain to become another essential text in the field of women′s studies. . . Recommended for public and academic libraries." Library Journal