Toward an Intellectual History of Black Women - (The John Hope Franklin African American History and Culture) (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Despite recent advances in the study of black thought, black women intellectuals remain often neglected. This collection of essays by fifteen scholars of history and literature establishes black women's places in intellectual history by engaging the work of writers, educators, activists, religious leaders, and social reformers in the United States, Africa, and the Caribbean. Dedicated to recovering the contributions of thinkers marginalized by both their race and their gender, these essays uncover the work of unconventional intellectuals, both formally educated and self-taught, and explore the broad community of ideas in which their work participated. The end result is a field-defining and innovative volume that addresses topics ranging from religion and slavery to the politicized and gendered reappraisal of the black female body in contemporary culture.

Contributors are Mia E. Bay, Judith Byfield, Alexandra Cornelius, Thadious Davis, Corinne T. Field, Arlette Frund, Kaiama L. Glover, Farah J. Griffin, Martha S. Jones, Natasha Lightfoot, Sherie Randolph, Barbara D. Savage, Jon Sensbach, Maboula Soumahoro, and Cheryl Wall.

Review Quotes

"Offers a compelling exploration of black women's diverse intellectual labors and contributions."--Journal of Southern History

"A groundbreaking new read. . . . One of the many strengths of this anthology is the non-traditional ways its authors define critical thinking."--ESSENCE

"A wonderful guide for activists and lay historians interested in understanding the longer trajectory of black women's work as thinkers and doers in the world."--Journal of American History

"Impressive and necessary . . . [and] every chapter merits its own attention."--Women's Review of Books

"This volume promotes study of a vital fiber in the tapestry of US history...Highly recommended"--CHOICE

About the Author

Mia E. Bay is professor of history at Rutgers University.
Farah J. Griffin is William B. Ransford Professor of English and Comparative Literature and African-American Studies at Columbia University.
Martha S. Jones is Arthur F. Thurnau Professor at the University of Michigan.
Barbara D. Savage is Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought and Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.