juliacreson's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Paving the way for contemporary women in rap, and trap feminism!
dvdpcp's review against another edition
2.0
This was a tough one. Obviously it’s not for me so I was trying to treat it as a conversation I’m overhearing and just listen respectfully which ultimately I did, but there was so much that I just didn’t like, so much internalized misogyny I think clearly again I’m not the intended audience so grain of salt but I think I was also imagining this book was so long ago which it was but then they started talking about Lemonade which was a while ago but not crazy like I was thinking. The conversation at the end for the 18th year was better but still seemed steeped in respectability politics a little. There were so many things she pointed out that “feminists” have to contend with that just were not contradictory to me, and there was so much stuff about gender I just did not agree with. And things that felt wrong, like when she doesn’t want gender equality bc she likes chivalry, not acknowledging the possibility that men could treat women well out of love and respect not prescribed roles that hinge on sexual favors and layered reciprocity. I respect that this book was so important to so many people I unfortunately think I was not one of them and I read it too late in my education to appreciate it fully. I’m curious about her new work centering pleasure politics and what that looks like.
cookiebook's review against another edition
1.0
Hated the book with a passion. Others have already noted a lot of the failure of this book. I would also like to add. She framed a 12 girl have sex with multiple people in public as consensual. Never once investigating the predatory environmental causes. This book reads like the token women invite on the bros podcast.
booksnbrownsugar's review against another edition
Alot of good highlights in this book. Not sure if her outlook on women and hiphop is the same being that this book was originally written some years ago. But I'm definitely curious if it is....
dancevera's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Excellent, foundational text on hip hop feminism. I was sometimes distracted by just how straight it was, but this was 1999, and she acknowledged her limitations in the afterward in some meaningful ways. More to say when I'm not struggling with jet lag, but this was an excellent listen.
inkerly's review against another edition
4.0
This book resonated with me for many different reasons, but I left this book overall with a different moral ground on the perspective of feminism in the black community. Bronx author and self-proclaimed feminist Joan Morgan opens this book with a monologue about how the injection of hip hop into the black patriarchy as well as her personal experiences growing up in a single parent household have morphed her view of feminism throughout her adulthood. I liked how, unlike other female empowerment books, this one is blunt and doesn't skirt over the "gray" areas of feminism---Morgan poignantly addresses its racist history and the exclusion of black women, while also asking the controversial question: is it possible to partake in the movement with the conservative mindset that it isn't about being right, but being united?
From her vantage point, I completely get it. Her ancestors fought for their basic civil rights, even if the gender movement had to be pushed aside in order to elevate the pro-black male-led 'united front' against racism. She sees feminism as a tool to survive oppression, and not brow-beat with the sickle sword of identity-politics and privilege-shaming. But, she also sees it as the key to opening her eyes to the ingrained sexism in her everyday life---from the hyper sexualization and demoralization of black female bodies in hip hop, to black men viewing her feminism as an attack on the patriarchal pro-black movement. And what I found most interesting, her most pressing point that the self-destructive lifestyle of alcoholism, drugs, and violence preached by the rap giants of our generation are the biggest warning signs of depression masking itself as hypermasculinity in black men.
There were many other good points thrown here and there in the book, but again, because it was written from such a personalized perspective, I understand how the informal language and tone could throw off someone who just finished reading the Autobiography of Malcolm X. Both books are worthy of reading, but different people are drawn to different narratives.
From her vantage point, I completely get it. Her ancestors fought for their basic civil rights, even if the gender movement had to be pushed aside in order to elevate the pro-black male-led 'united front' against racism. She sees feminism as a tool to survive oppression, and not brow-beat with the sickle sword of identity-politics and privilege-shaming. But, she also sees it as the key to opening her eyes to the ingrained sexism in her everyday life---from the hyper sexualization and demoralization of black female bodies in hip hop, to black men viewing her feminism as an attack on the patriarchal pro-black movement. And what I found most interesting, her most pressing point that the self-destructive lifestyle of alcoholism, drugs, and violence preached by the rap giants of our generation are the biggest warning signs of depression masking itself as hypermasculinity in black men.
There were many other good points thrown here and there in the book, but again, because it was written from such a personalized perspective, I understand how the informal language and tone could throw off someone who just finished reading the Autobiography of Malcolm X. Both books are worthy of reading, but different people are drawn to different narratives.
bookjunkie57's review against another edition
When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost
I Picked Up This Book Because: #Bookopoly
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Hoopla via HCPL
Dates Read: 4/17/23
Stars: DNF - No rating
Narrator(s): Brittany Cooper, Joy Bryant, Bahni Turpin
The Story:
I’m not sure what I was expecting but it was not an academic paper on feminism, racism and sexism. While well written and making some interesting points I was not in the mood for such, and I think this work deserves more than half my attention while I let it play for the sake of finishing a book.
The Random Thoughts:
I Picked Up This Book Because: #Bookopoly
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Hoopla via HCPL
Dates Read: 4/17/23
Stars: DNF - No rating
Narrator(s): Brittany Cooper, Joy Bryant, Bahni Turpin
The Story:
I’m not sure what I was expecting but it was not an academic paper on feminism, racism and sexism. While well written and making some interesting points I was not in the mood for such, and I think this work deserves more than half my attention while I let it play for the sake of finishing a book.
The Random Thoughts: