A review by pattireadsalot
The Black Woman: An Anthology by Toni Cade Bambara
5.0
I was looking for the exact assortment of this anthology when I perused my subscription service. I wanted to read Toni Morrison, Nikki Giovanni, and Alice Walker, and they were featured here along with many others. This was also perfect because I didn't have to commit to one book.
Frances Beale's essay on Double Jeopardy- To Be Black and Female, highlighted that a major differentiation for black women is in the liberation movement. The white women's liberation movement is basically middle class, as very few of these women suffer extreme economic exploitation. "If white groups don't realize that, they are in fact fighting capitalism and racism, we do not have common bonds".
This collection of poems, stories, essays, and conversations is a powerful look into the preoccupations of the contemporary black woman in this country. I also liked that student work was featured alongside professional writers. My other favorite entries were "To Whom Will She Cry Rape?" by Abbey Lincoln, "The Black Woman as a Woman", "Is the Black Male Castrated?", and "The Kitchen Crisis." I highly recommend this collection.
Frances Beale's essay on Double Jeopardy- To Be Black and Female, highlighted that a major differentiation for black women is in the liberation movement. The white women's liberation movement is basically middle class, as very few of these women suffer extreme economic exploitation. "If white groups don't realize that, they are in fact fighting capitalism and racism, we do not have common bonds".
This collection of poems, stories, essays, and conversations is a powerful look into the preoccupations of the contemporary black woman in this country. I also liked that student work was featured alongside professional writers. My other favorite entries were "To Whom Will She Cry Rape?" by Abbey Lincoln, "The Black Woman as a Woman", "Is the Black Male Castrated?", and "The Kitchen Crisis." I highly recommend this collection.