Customer Reviews

When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: A Hip-Hop Feminist Breaks It Down

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have bought this book three times now, because my students and friends keep borrowing it and "forgetting" to return it. They love it, and so do all of the black women I know who read it.

This book is truly an insightful and elegant attempt to explain the complexity of black womanism (most black women reject feminism, which places gender at the center of an experience, and place race/gender/class at the center, and understand these things mix). She discusses the disgust "strongblackwomen" have for "chickenheads", whose conservative philosophy of using their bodies as a shortcut to monetary and sexual achievement hurts other black women, as we are accused of the same manipulative behavior. She also articulates what most educated black women have thought, over and over again, as we confront black women and men who want our (middle class black women's and black men's)help, but who then criticize us down for being responsible, disciplined, educated, and successful. She also deals with white racism, and how irresponsible people use it to tear down responsible black women.

Redtwister's review denigrates her solutions as simplistic and symptomatic of her status as a middle class black women. He calls them "bootstrap" and "Nation of Islam." This reveals his lack of experience with the non-academic black community, and especially with the black inner city. He recommends a class analysis that leads to governmental solutions that just are not going to happen, and does not understand that this work is conscious at all times of "reality" and feasiblity. He does not understand that middle class black men and women are the key to fighting problems in the black community, for they understand the reality, and are the only ones who can fashion realistic solutions from experience. For too long the old jibe about middle class self help and education being oppressive has been used to silence the black middle class from effective discussion and influence. Her discussion of solutions is strong, feasible, and most importantly realistic and proven. Middle class black America has been hard at work at the business of saving poor black America for decades. Morgan's list of solutions not only has a history of common sense and success behind it, but also comes from the one group who has successfully escaped the ghetto.

I recommend this book, and hope that the people who it is aimed at (non-academic black women finding their way in the world) read it. Every teenage girl who worships at the House of Lil' Kim and Destiny's Child needs to read this. The true problems with "chickenheads" (the materialism, the refusal to do things the right way, the view of their bodies and sex as cheap ways to manipulate men and gain material goods) hurts other black women as some black men (commercial gangsta rappers) attempt to pin these behaviors on all black women. The chickenheads don't understand that eventually, age and gravity means you need a brain. Too many are left hard and poor at 30, and alone. But these women will not read this book. Too bad.

Not being African American or a woman, you can take this for what it is worth. Maybe not much. There's the disclaimer.

The book has some really profound moments. The discussion of rap music, what is going on with the mysoginy in it, from pages 70-81 puts the whole scene in a different light. Really sharp stuff. I also liked her take on the Million Man March. I think her best moment is when she describes the inner connection between African American women and men (race, not just as oppression, but as a shared culture and community of integrity and struggle and failings and humanity, and most importantly, of LOVE) that seems to be lacking (or weaker) between white (middle or upper class) women and white men, who maybe often fight over getting full white privileges without gender discrimination. Some element of this exists among all working class women, but race figures as a more acceptable and prominent form of social identity (especially when the so-called "white race" is nothing more than a morally and culturally empty vessel of privileges and power over and against anyone defined as "not white".) This may be her most lucid moment. The whole discussion of the SBW also offers some insights that I would not otherwise have even a tiny clue about. For those insights and that sharing, I can only be thankful that Joan Morgan wrote this book.

The problems appear in discussing solutions. Here, her entrenchment in the new Black middle class creates huge weaknesses and fragments, most notably a kind of ignorance of social problems connected to class (though it would be a mistake to confuse "chickenheads" with working class women.) All of her ideas about how to make things better parallel Nation of Islam "boot-strapism" and individualism. In a world where clean, safe, affordable childcare, healthcare, etc. do not exist for most women (of any color), unless Grandma and Aunties can be pulled in; the abscence of quality education (sometimes she expects STRONGBLACKMEN AND STRONGBLACKWOMEN exactly where the system does fail children and families); and the domination of alienated and alienating work that oppresses more than frees even when it pays "well" all escape her view. Class oppression and class conflict, and African American men and women's labor as a central source of corporate wealth (where did those rich men, Black or esp white get that money? Exploitation, and nowhere else) disappears. This shows her Third Wave roots, but also the political crisis of leadership in the African American community when a larger Black middle class seeks the right to have all the privileges of the white middle class, including the right to become an exploiter. She ignores the political problems posed by the integration of the Black middle class into white corporate America (not true during the Civil Rights Movement), a problem that impinges on the discussion of gender, too (try the last two chapters.)

That I can talk this long just points out how ultimately rich this book is, if not satisfying. But compared to the banal and virtually Republican white Third Wave feminist works, this book should be in the hands and heads of every man and woman concerned with a real appreciation of the different ways race, class and gender play out. A good reminder that Black women are NOT just half Black man/Half white woman, as if one oppression added to another in a neat formula. Black women's experience is irreducible and powerful, and thanks to Joan Morgan for sharing her power with us.

I like this book in that the author, Joan Morgan, does not try to act like her book has all the answers for everything. Instead, she just tries to offer her view and let you take what you can from it.

First she explores how feminism has traditionally been interpreted in Black culture, and how this limiting definition has evolved in the 21st century, especially as it relates to being a part of the hip-hop culture. She also explores how history has influenced the current relations between black men and women, and their evolution into the strongblackwoman and endangeredblackman stereotypes. Joan also talks about the animosity between "chickenheads" and strongblackwomen, and encourages women to really be themselves.

I especially like how Joan explores the relationship between black women and their fathers. She provides a unique insight and solution for this dilemma.

This book is a timely message for "strong" black women who are looking for a way to absolve thier independence with their innate feminism.

This book is one of the best examples of "feminist works" I have seen. This book let's both men and women explore who they are and what keeping it real really means for positive blacks in the year 2G. It is a very easy read and cheap. I would definitely recommend it for any body who is interested in black on black relationships.

This book is a must for any 'older schooled' hip hop female heads worldwide. Morgan has a wonderful street/hip hop rhetoric that speaks to women who have a love for this thing called hip hop and life. Ladies pay attention to her words! She is rough, rugged raw and honest. Mama's, try this book out on your daughters, you may need to read it with them or break Morgans pearls of wisdom down for them as their heads bob in and out of the book either agreeing, disagreeing or shooting looks of confusion. She hits the chicken head directly on the head, there is a little bit of chicken head in every women, depending on how you define chicken head and your own personal beliefs pertaining to the f word.

Joan Morgan's book is essential reading for anyone who wants to appreciate the Black woman in the age of hip hop. Not only does she talk about the 'bitch' and the 'ho' but she also talks about the dilemma of the 'strong black woman'. This SBW persona is something that's thrust upon us and most times it's like an albatross around your neck.
All young Black women should read this book because it gives us the validation we need in a world where validating the Black woman isn't something you see very often.

This book is one book that will be read throughout the ages of hiphop culture and how the the deterioation of the Black Family is becoming non-existent in today's society. The author tells very heart to heart stories of truth, experience, and research on the catch 22's of being a black man and black woman in America. I'm a guy and this book is very insightful, motivating, and puts things in perspective about achievement of becoming the best person or mate you can be to someone else. A must read for all women not just black, but this book should be in every book club and every man or woman's book collection.

As I read When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost, I fell in love: with feminism, with author Joan Morgan, and with making a difference in my life and the lives of others.

Chickenheads is the new, compelling answer to your mother's feminist ideals. No longer is the issue just about equality; most importantly, it's about respect for all women. Joan Morgan writes with passion, intelligence and humor, and presents common sense answers to topics such as the empowerment of women, the misogyny plaguing hip-hop, the plight of black male-female relationships, and the encouragement of self-love.

I found Joan ideas to be refreshing to a world where monogamy is dying, our Black homes are torn apart, and children grow up far too fast. This is a book for not only Black women to read, especially but it's one that should be shared with future generations of African-American girls and boys. They need to learn the concepts of self-love and respect for the opposite sex.

Chickenheads is a great stepping stone to repairing our community and our souls.

I can't say enough great things about this book! My book club read it last month and after sharing our own favorite highlighted passages, we all agreed that it was a wonderful depiction of the realities and myths facing the hip hop generation. Girlfriend broke it down, sideways, and backwards. I would recommend this book to any young woman or young person for that matter looking for an interesting read. Kudos to Morgan!

I believe this book is recommended reading for anyone who loves Hip Hope and/or anyone who questions and/or struggles with the place of Black women in this mordern Hip Hop age, while staying true to Black Feminist thoughts. I found myself agreeing with Morgan, but mostly enjoying her fun and playful writing.