Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment (Revised 10th Anniv 2nd Edition)

I knew little about the Black Feminist movement, when I first read this book over four years ago. It was part of a list of required books for a Black and Indigenous women’s course through the school of Women’s Studies. This school of thought has more involved in it than meets the eye. For starters, according to the very compelling and highly researched studies of Patricia Hill Collins, it came about in the face of great discrimination against, not only, African-Americans and women, but especially African-American women. They were looked down upon and objectified, due to their race, the means in which many African-Americans were forceably brought to the United States, as slaves (fodder for wealthy, white slave owners in their fields and in their children’s nurseries, as well as their kitchens).What works so well in its book is the acute insight and detail that Collins brings to her body of work. This book is really beautifully put together, and we get a sense of the evolution of Black Feminist Thought, through time. It’s unbelievable to me that not more people have heard of this book, and I really think a formal movement needs to be started in schools throughout the country, to bring interracial consciousness to the masses, through literature. Read this book today.

I have borrowed and used this book so often from my university’s library that I have finally bought my own copy! An excellent book which looks at Black Feminism without being overly preachy or condemning and Collins’ writing style is very readable and insightful. I am a literature student and her writing on slavery and the plight of female slaves has inspired several essays. This book is probably most suitable for sociology students, but I would say any student look at ANY form of feminism would find this book very useful.

This book is a must-read to get introduced to and understand intersectional feminism.

Used for coursework

Patricia Hill Collins exemplifies a practitioner’s and theorist’s point of view on black feminism as it relates to Africa American and our African sisters. She references critical and inspiring data and quotes from a varied repetoire of authors, historians, and philosophers. The author explains the context and format of her subject upon initial reading. This book also draws commonalities among the issues and concerns among African American women and our international sisterhood (i.e., African, Carribean, etc.,) It illustrates the social and cultural values among all groups, the commonalities among the values while focusing on the African American feminist aspect. This is a must read for any person, be it woman or not, African American or other. It brings about a social and cultural understanding that is pertinent to the “holonomy” of understanding and appreciating varied cultural, social and historical values and experiences while commencing to the building of community. Please add this title to your collection of literature. You won’t be disappointed; if for nothing more than to open your world to receive another perspective.

The author is able to display how complex oppression is while somehow making it more understandable. Somehow, the world feels more complicated and I feel like I can make more sense of it at the same time Because of this book.

Awesome book! A must buy!

Brilliant must read to understand race in America and the interdependence of race with gender and other oppressions. As much engaged social action as sociology, knowledge as the weapon to transform confusion and oppression.