Customer Reviews

Reading Black, Reading Feminist: A Critical Anthology (Meridian)

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I didn't read all of this book, but I know it's a winner. Female readers should not be threatened by the introduction being written by Gates, a man. He has consistently supported work by women and gay men and shown himself to be quite the cool straight man. In this book, many academics analyze well-known texts by black women. You'll be relieved that it's critical, and not gushy or essentialist. Here's my one big problem. In her discussion of Walker's "The Color Purple", hook condemns Walker for turning Celie into a capitalist after all the racist, sexist, and classist (and possibly homophobic) exploitation she faced throughout her life. However, what hooks fails to realize is that Celie created a business called "Folks Pants" that made clothes fit for both genders and all sizes. The "folk" in the title has very socialist implications. hooks should be pleased that Celie finally has some agency and can live by her own means and on her own terms. Methinks hooks is jealous of Walker's success.