Gender Talk

Two of America's leading African-American intellectuals provide the most comprehensive critique to date of the state of relations between Black men and women. Dr. Johnetta Cole and Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall argue that, in the 21st century, the condition of Black women must be addressed alongside the condition of Black men.

Drs. Cole and Guy-Sheftall bring unique qualifications to this book as scholars, feminists, and intellectual leaders. They examine the historical conflict between race and gender issues in the Black community, the impact of feminism, the role of the Black Church, attitudes about sexuality, and popular culture including hip-hop. The authors boldly assert that, without attention to these matters, there can be no long-lasting solution to many of the community's race problems. They point to the impact of sexism on the oppression of Black women, including male dominance within Black communities.

Beginning with their own gender talk and examining how their own childhoods and adult experiences have led them to feminism, they also include the voices of a large and influential group of African-American men and women who speak openly of gender issues including bell hooks, Kevin Powell, Cornel West, Byllye Avery, Robin DG Kelley, Faye Wattleton, Tricia Rose, and Dorothy Height (President of the National Council of Negro Women for more than 40 years).

Dr. Johnetta B. Cole is the President of Bennett College; Beverly Guy-Sheftall is the Anna Julia Cooper Professor of Women's Studies and English and the Director of the Women's Research and Resource Center at Spelman College.