A review by audreybethc
The Black Woman: An Anthology by

challenging informative medium-paced

5.0

I read this book alongside “The Feminine Mystique” to get a broader perspective of midcentury womanhood. “The Black Woman: An Anthology” was far superior. It is a series of essays (and a few pieces of fiction and poetry) written by Black women in the mid 60s-70s. There are many different perspectives and topics covered, all are linked to the position of the Black woman. Some writers reflect on their place in the movement, others on the home/family, others on their place in broader society. All were eye-opening for me, and led to a list of writers and topics to investigate further (love a book that leads to more books!). My favorite pieces were:  Reena, Double Jeopardy: To Be Black and Female, The Kitchen Crisis, The Black Revolution In America and Poor Black Women’s Study Papers. There are two pieces at the very end that are theater/film critiques (or maybe analysis is a better word). I have not seen the play/film that those were about, so I didn’t find those essays compelling. Despite that, still one of my favorite feminist works so far.