Ohene Kwabena & Wofaase Cornelius:
Your points are well taken. However, if we really mean "feminist" books, then some of us wanted to see some sophisticated books about women, including THE FEMALE KING OF COLONIAL NIGERIA by Professor Nwando Achebe (reading that well-written book reminds a true Africanist of the story of Ghana's late Queen Yaa Asantewaah of the Ashanti ethnic group); SISTERHOOD, FEMINISM AND POWER IN AFRICA by Professor Obioma ("Obi") Nnaemeka, and several other similar powerful feminist publications; maybe, serious books in history and feminist theory were not to be considered for that list.
Furthermore, I wondered if books by deceased feminist authors, including Flora Nwapa and others, are to be considered for the "short-sighted" list. After all, such authors are no longer with us, but their works live on through reprints! That list of only 15 black feminist books did a dis-service and, also, it was short-sighted, just to say the least!
By the way, when I read about the "cock crowing", I knew that Ohene Kabena just came from Africa. In fact, I was sad that you left some of us out of the excellent conference that you organized in Ghana. If you do that again to some of us (who want a tax-deductible reason to visit the Motherland), you will have to slaughter a "live" cow for pacification!
Wofaase Cornelius of Sweden, your posting did remind some of us of an argument on a university campus (which I had the dubious distinction of refereeing): that Alan Payton (South Africa) and some North African writers were not to be added to a list of African writers for a course titled, "Books and Authors of Contemporary African Literature". It was similar to FESTAC, the festival that Chief Awolowo humorously described as "a cultural jamboree". The argument was about only authentic/black Africans being invited to attend FESTAC. Therefore, writers and artistes from Egypt and other "Arabist" areas were not considered black enough.
However, some of our leading writers felt that anyone, who considered himself or herself, to be African should be welcomed to participate in the cultural jamboree; after all, as the sagacious Chief ("the best President Nigeria never had", by Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu's estimation) described it, FESTAC was just a cultural jamboree!
Well, the list of 15 black feminist books provided should have instead been widened to "50 black feminist books"!
A.B. Assensoh, Eugene, Oregon.
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2013 8:42 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: 15 black feminist books everyone should read
African intellectuals, especially females, have always been planted in the margins of the academy by the powers that be. To overlook, or is it to disregard Ama Ata Aidoo speaks volumes. We know that Oga Falola has been winning a spate of awards, but just imagine that he is a non-African who has prolifically co/authored over one hundred books! Me I like matter oh. It is too early and the cock just crowed. Anyway, I just came back from Ghana. That is another story.
============
Wofa Akwasi,
That's easy. It's someone/ some ones' personal choice and that always means personal preferences – even if they're trying to be "universal" about it.
It's supposed to be of rank and file importance and therefore a list of the fifteen most important/ relevant Black Feminist Books Everyone Should Read according to Diamond Sharp.
First of all, we've got to make a distinction between Black and African. Egypt's current military leader El-Sisi, may be the leader of an African country, but does he define himself as "Black"? We can ask him.
Gaddafi was crowned King of Kings of Africa by a coterie of Black Chiefs and local kings, but did Gaddafi identify himself as Black to the Arab League to which he invited Israel to apply for membership?
Let us suppose that Nawal el-Saadawi is not there because according to certain definitions she may not be classified as" Black" – or Black enough to merit being on that list – she is certainly darker than Germaine de Geer or Suzanne Brogger since she happens to be Arab (don't know what colour that is ) but certainly not " West African sepia"
I'm puzzled as to why Soul Sister Angela Davis or just Angela Davis is not included in the top fifteen – thinking of her Women, Race and Class
I lament that my son is not here, since he is a specialist (on feminism) whereas some Soul Brothers are mostly only specialists on perfumes and connoisseurs of "the feminine mystique"
Are you aware Dear Wofa, that there was a time when an edict was issued saying that anyone who says that Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (the Prophet of Islam) – salallahu alaihi wa salaam - is Black "is killed" – not will be killed, but "is killed"?
In the case of Nawal el-Saadawi it could also be a matter of self-definition. Does she say that she is Black or is she first and foremost Arab? She is very popular with the Swedish feminists and like Buchi Emecheta (a good friend of the late Brother Bedu Annan) has been here (Stockholm) a couple of times…
You lament the absence of Ama Ata Aidoo - that too is a dilemma. By the same token there are other nationalists who probably lament the absence of Ebuchi Emecheta from the list of the top fifteen – in this case it would seem mainly polemicists.
Dark, black, swarthy,
Sincerely,
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 7:39 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Cc: anthonyakinola@yahoo.co.uk; rigodan@yahoo.com; Osili, Una O
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - FW: 15 black feminist books everyone should read
http://www.theroot.com/views/15-black-feminist-books-everyone-should-read
15 Black Feminist Books Everyone Should ReadSolidarity may be for white women and black power for black men, but these books are for everybody. |
Solidarity may be for white women and black power for black men, but these books are for everybody.
(The Root) -- White feminism's disregard for black women's issues is nothing new, and sexism in black power movements from the United States to South Africa is also well documented. So it was no surprise when Twitter exploded on Monday with the #solidarityisforwhitewomen trending topic. Writer Mikki Kendall started the tag in response to the insensitivity of some noted white feminists toward victims of writer Hugo Schwyzer's vicious attacks on feminists of color.
On Tuesday, Ebony's Jamilah Lemieux's #blackpowerisforblackmen continued the conversation, this time focusing on the plight of black feminists within the black community. With these hashtags, black feminists used Twitter to revisit discussions that are often ignored in both mainstream feminist media and historical accounts of black liberation struggles. Unsurprisingly, by the end of the night, the #solidarityisforwhitewomen stream was full of tweets from people who clearly don't read books about black feminism. The #blackpowerisforblackmen hashtag was filled with comments from those who refused to acknowledge black male privilege.
It's not a good idea to tell black feminists anything about black feminism if you don't know what you're talking about. Or, as my grandmother always tells me, don't open your mouth if you don't have anything intelligent to say. While I'm tempted just to tell everyone to Google this information on their own, I've also compiled a list of black feminist books that everyone should read before entering conversations like the ones these hashtags started.
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1. 'Feminism Is for Everybody,' by Bell Hooks
Feminism Is for Everybody (Amazon.com)Feminism Is for Everybody -- which explores topics such as reproductive rights, violence, race, class and work -- is essential reading by Bell Hooks, one of the most prominent black feminist writers. Her book proves that feminism is, in fact, for everybody.
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2. 'Sister Citizen,' by Melissa Harris-Perry
Sister Citizen (Amazon.com)I am a "stan" for Melissa Harris-Perry. In this book, she delves into the four tropes of black women -- Jezebel, Mammy, Sapphire and Strong Black Woman -- and presents her thesis of the "crooked room" that black women live in because of the multiple oppressions they face. This is an important read for contemporary feminists.
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3. 'Blacks,' by Gwendolyn Brooks
Blacks (Third World Press)Gwendolyn Brooks' collection of poems explores the everyday life of black Chicago. It also includes her novel "Maud Martha," in which readers are introduced to a self-aware and determined black woman facing the realities of being black in 1940s Chicago.
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4. 'Black Girls Are From the Future,' by Renina Jarmon
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