Ain't I a Woman

Black Women and Feminism (2nd Edition)

By: bell hooks

Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

A classic work of feminist scholarship, Ain't I a Woman has become a must for all those interested in the nature of Black womanhood. Examining the impact of sexism on Black women during slavery, the devaluation of Black womanhood, Black male sexism, racism among feminists, and the Black woman's involvement with feminism, hooks attempts to move us beyond racist and sexist assumptions. The result is nothing short of groundbreaking, giving this work a critical place in every feminist scholar's library.

©2015 Gloria Watkins (P)2019 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"Ain't I a Woman is one of the most interesting, lucid books dealing with the subject of Feminism. The book can be recommended wholeheartedly to anyone who is interested in Black history, in women's history, or in that much-overlooked connection between the two." (Maria K. Mootry Ikerionwu, Phylon (1983))

Informative

This was my first exploration into Bell Hooks and I was very satisfied. She backs up all of her arguments in detailed yet concise ways. This book is great for learning the complex intersection that is being an African-American woman in America. As a queer black man, I found it useful in understanding my own position as a male, as African-American, and queer.

Highly recommend.

Does the Womens Movement Speak for All...

Initially, I purchased this book to empower my nine y.o. daughter on woman's liberation. Being a male i could never fathom what it is to be a female and especially a black female in America. I learned much more than I originally thought I would. I also recieved confirmation on the woman's movement. My main frustration was the fact the women's movement is supportive to various initiatives as long as it doesn't over step the color line. How many feminist spoke up about Sandra Bland or Breanna Taylor and demanded justice. maybe I missed it but there are so many other. If we are to stand together for human right then Justice for ALL.

Deep, eye-opening experience!

Bell Hooks really opens my eyes to feminist views. I have a deeper understanding of why black feminism exist. As I continue to read feminism books, I go deeper and deeper into the underlying issues of feminist views and Black women feminist views. Bell hooks explores the issues of Black women, and the plight of amplifying Black female voices when it comes to equality.

Hooks affirms that Black feminist does not have an agenda that advocates only Black women, but all disadvantaged people, She suggests that feminism left Black women out of the equation. She further suggests how Black women are left out of ALL conversations from not only white women, but white and black men as well.

I gave this book 5 stars because it enlightened me, informed me, and taught me different aspects of feminist views. I recommend this book not just to other black women, but I also recommend this book to black men, white women and white men. I will be re-reading this book again, because I am going to take notes, and continue to dissect this book further.

Required reading

This book should be required reading for all seeking to make the world a better place.

I love this book

I have been searching for a good book about black woman and the movement. I love that this book help me define struggles I been having in my life. Good audio good book.

Empowering and Informatived!

This is a well written book, changed my perspective! highly reccomend everyone to read it

Necesario

I like fiction books for reading, and strugle with non fiction books to read. So I am using the time I used to spend in radio with non fiction books, sometimes is difucult for me because I came with the thought of knowing every thing. Now this book is NECESARY to read, and hearing It was very inspiring.

Priceless book

I’m so grateful for this book. I’ve been interested in feminism for a while but I couldn’t hope but notice the under representation of non-white women in popular feminist work. This book was everything I hoped for and more. I have a developed understanding of black feminism history, that’s lacking in so many other books.

This book was a soul stirring!

This book was a soul-stirring depiction of United States history from a perspective systemically unheard voice, the black woman in America.

Worth listening to.

Good exploration of the cross-sectionality of being a African-American Woman/a woman in America and it's implications of the feminist movement

The Reality of Intersectionality

Providing an amazingly detailed historical context in order to point out the ingrained racism and sexism Black Women of the american Diaspora have faced and continue to do so. I love how Bell Hooks points out that in being both Black and Women we have been made doubly invisible from both Movements of 'equality' .

Even if your research is about other black diasporas this book is definitely one to be used in regards to the paralleling global attitudes toward black women.

Excellent introduction to black feminism (I suspect bell hooks would hate that 😄)

The narrator is classy and I love it when she switches into character of various people cited in the book. This book is an excellent evaluation of the black women’s place in American society from slavery to the 20th Century. It calls for an urgent need for anti-racism in the feminist movement and togetherness in the fight against patriarchy, applying until today.

I am left with the feeling that white feminists still have a lot of work to do to re-examine the racism in the movement on their end and black women have to heal and realise that they too are harmed by the patriarchy from all sides, and feminism is for them.

It could have done with more citations for some of the assertions she made, but I think bell hooks is adamant not to put them in her works for some reason.

Has aged well

Interesting, easy to read. Would recommend if you are interested in gender, race and intersectional feminism that’s well grounded in historical events and societies.

Artful honestly of bell hooks, the fire starter...

There is only one bell hooks and she does not mince her words.
This book says everything that one needs to know to get a basic grasp of the dynamics of race, class and gender - within American feminist thinking and activism; straight from the most dehumanised and exploited community within the story of human capitalist experiment that is the United States of America: The black woman.
How did 1980s readers cope when they read it?
Either affirmed and acknowledged, shocked or shamed to wake up.
So delighted to see bell’s work here on audible.
Bravo. Bravo. Bravo.

Essential listening

This is an essential book to listen to. I would recommend it to every single person on the planet.

Powerful

So informative and useful. Definitely a book that needs to be studied in schools.

Enlightening

Listen to this if you want to truly begin to understand the struggles of the black woman!

Brilliant Perspectives

This was a great read and the context given of America and the historical times is great because it frames the narrative. However, as a reader you still find the correlations to your life regardless of where you are and when you read the book.
This history should be taught in schools!

I like the intention with the book

The book itself is great but the reader is horrible boring to listen to. I have had to force myself to continue.

I'm hooked on Bell hooks!!!!

I loved it. this book will always resonate with me forever. thank you Bell Hooks!!