A Shining Thread of Hope

Rating:
Summary: A pleasure to read!
Review: I have read a number of books about Black Women and this one is in a different league from the others. It if, as far as I know, the FIRST book to tell the narrative history of African American women in the United States and it tells it in a riviting fashing "warts and all." I had planned on spending several days working my way through a "history" book and stayed up till 4:00 in the morning to finish it in a single sitting. I can without qualification say that I think anyone who cares about American history should read this volume.

Rating:
Summary: An important work--doesn't fulfill the promise of its title.
Review: It is close to impossible to reconstruct a history of African Americans. Indeed, part of our common American heritage is the destruction and unrecorded depiction of non-European and non-male histories. The authors have dilligently researched their stories and they are to be congratulated for their tenacity. However, the book fails to elicit "hope" from the reader. The writing is dry and unimaginative. With such a lively history, it is a shame that it reads like a dead history. The most egregious flaw in the book, however, is not found in its writing style but rather in how the authors attempt to boost the qualities of the women portrayed in the book by drawing comparisons between the accomplishment of these women and the accomplishments of men and white women. This is a completely unnecessary element. The accomplishments of these African American women stand on their own. The purpose of the book is largely diminished because the authors have touted "whiteness" or "maleness" as standards. "Whiteness" and "maleness" are not standards by my measure and should not be used as one, particularly in a book about black women. I would hope that the authors eliminate their references and comparisons to men and white women in future editions so that the history of these women can be properly relayed to future generations.

Rating:
Summary: A pleasure to read!
Review: Rich in historiography as well as history. An excellent resource for any US History teacher or student. Information is easy to find, the bibliography is extensive and the annotations are informative. All of this and I looked forward to reading each page!

Rating:
Summary: This riveting narrative gives voice to American black women.
Review: This riveting narrative, a kind of polyphonic chorus giving voice to American black women, adds an important chapter in the ongoing project of understanding our nation's history. Covering a span of almost 400 years, the work moves beyond stereotypes, beyond idealization, to recognize the richness of the stories they tell. With superbly crafted prose, the authors document difficulties and challenges along with achievements and triumphs as they interpret the profound complexities of gender, race and class in the lives of African American women.