Afro-American Women: A Brief Guide to Writings from Historical and Feminist Perspectives

Afro-American women historians have paid little heed to the issues raised by Black feminists, and Black feminists have paid little if any attention to the historical literature being produced specifically about Black women. The basic assumption of most of the work produced by historians of Afro-American women is that there is a large body of unexplored accomplishment that merely awaits those with the interest and resources to dig it out and write it up. They view Black women as being oppressed by a number of social forces such as racism and sexism. They do not see Black women as mere victims, or as being defeated by these forces. They assume that since Black people have not only survived but have contributed much to the world in which we live, Black women must have played a large role in those processes. Historians of Black women generally emphasize racial as opposed to sexual oppression, study Black women within the general context of the history of Black Americans, and pay little attention to matters of sexual preference or to the personal and private behavior of those they are studying. Black feminists, on the other hand, seem to come to the study of Black women with the concerns of the White feminist movement, most of whose participants share the racist attitudes of White males. Black feminists tend to emphasize issues of sexual preference and personal, private behavior, and give a much greater weight to the role of sexual oppression by Black males in determining the life chances of Black females. They assume, in many cases, that Black women were oppressed in much the same way as White women--i.e., were denied political and economic roles of significance. Black feminists, therefore, are very weak on the actual achievements of Black women throughout their history in the United States. They have a tendency to ignore the communal roots and context that enabled such figures as Bessie Smith and Zora Neal Hurston, for example, to accomplish what they did

Black Studies in 21st Century Higher Education Webinar Video

Video, transcript, and promotional materials for a web-based seminar featuring Dr. Sonia Sanchez and Dr. John Bracey discussing Black Studies in 21st century higher education. The Black History Month program was hosted by the University of Maine Black Student Union, co-hosted by the UMaine Alumni Association

Black Ideologies, Black Utopias: Afrocentricity in Historical Perspective

Black Nationalist Ideologies have existed throughout the history of African Americans. But the exact content and the way in which their intensity and popularity has waxed and waned can be best understood by examining the specific historical contexts in which the ideas were embedded. Such an analysis has been completely lacking in the current furor over Afrocentricity in its varied forms. Many of the ideas which are now considered Afrocentric - though they were not labeled a such at the time - also flourished at the turn of the nineteenth century during what appropriately has been described as the nadir of the Black experience in post-Civil War America. There are sufficient parallels between that time and our own to give us reason to feel that a comparison of the social circumstances and the ideas of the two periods will enhance our understanding of the current debate

Afro-American Women: A Brief Guide to Writings from Historical and Feminist Perspectives

Afro-American women historians have paid little heed to the issues raised by Black feminists, and Black feminists have paid little if any attention to the historical literature being produced specifically about Black women. The basic assumption of most of the work produced by historians of Afro-American women is that there is a large body of unexplored accomplishment that merely awaits those with the interest and resources to dig it out and write it up. They view Black women as being oppressed by a number of social forces such as racism and sexism. They do not see Black women as mere victims, or as being defeated by these forces. They assume that since Black people have not only survived but have contributed much to the world in which we live, Black women must have played a large role in those processes. Historians of Black women generally emphasize racial as opposed to sexual oppression, study Black women within the general context of the history of Black Americans, and pay little attention to matters of sexual preference or to the personal and private behavior of those they are studying. Black feminists, on the other hand, seem to come to the study of Black women with the concerns of the White feminist movement, most of whose participants share the racist attitudes of White males. Black feminists tend to emphasize issues of sexual preference and personal, private behavior, and give a much greater weight to the role of sexual oppression by Black males in determining the life chances of Black females. They assume, in many cases, that Black women were oppressed in much the same way as White women--i.e., were denied political and economic roles of significance. Black feminists, therefore, are very weak on the actual achievements of Black women throughout their history in the United States. They have a tendency to ignore the communal roots and context that enabled such figures as Bessie Smith and Zora Neal Hurston, for example, to accomplish what they did

African American Mosaic: A Documentary History from the Slave Trade to the Twenty-First Century, Volume Two: From 1865 to the Present

With interest in African American history growing at an unprecedented rate, a single collection of readable, practically organized primary documents has become essential. Volume II in this accessible two-book collection explores the post-Civil War Black Reconstruction through current-day issues such as the Million Man March and the impact of Black conservatives in government. Reflects both the recent trends and the enduring political and social themes regarding gender and culture in African American history. Examines older political and social themes as well as latest research in gender and cultures studies. Features contemporary research. Offers a flexible two-volume format that makes books less expensive and easier to use for readers. A fascinating reference for anyone who wants to learn more about African American history

Black Ideologies, Black Utopias: Afrocentricity in Historical Perspective

Black Nationalist Ideologies have existed throughout the history of African Americans. But the exact content and the way in which their intensity and popularity has waxed and waned can be best understood by examining the specific historical contexts in which the ideas were embedded. Such an analysis has been completely lacking in the current furor over Afrocentricity in its varied forms. Many of the ideas which are now considered Afrocentric - though they were not labeled a such at the time - also flourished at the turn of the nineteenth century during what appropriately has been described as the nadir of the Black experience in post-Civil War America. There are sufficient parallels between that time and our own to give us reason to feel that a comparison of the social circumstances and the ideas of the two periods will enhance our understanding of the current debate