Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology

Barbara Smith

Rutgers University Press, 2000 - Literary Collections - 364 pages

A classic collection of Black feminist writings returns to print-with a new preface Barbara Smith was voted one of the most influential Black women in the U.S. by Essence Magazine! Praise for Home Girls: "The survival of these women and their joy makes Home Girls very satisfying."-Essence "A provocative and important new collection."-Ms. "Pungent and varied, full of questions, convictions, and insights."-The Nation "It is fitting that Home Girls also reflects and celebrates the difference, among the [thirty-three] Black feminist writers, critics, and theorists assembled from the United States and the Caribbean, among Black women of all colors, classes, and cultures. More importantly, it reflects and celebrates our connections."-The Women's Review of Books The pioneering anthology Home Girls features writings by Black feminist and lesbian activists on topics both provocative and profound. Since its initial publication in 1983, it has become an essential text on Black women's lives and writings. This edition features an updated list of contributor biographies and an all-new preface that provides a fresh assessment of how Black women's lives have changed-or not-since the book was first published. Contributors are Tania Abdulahad, Donna Allegra, Barbara A. Banks, Becky Birtha, Julie Carter, Cenen, Cheryl Clarke, Michelle Cliff, Michelle T. Clinton, Willie M. Coleman, Toi Derricotte, Alexis De Veaux, Jewelle L. Gomez, Akasha (Gloria) Hull, Patricia Jones, June Jordan, Audre Lorde, Raymina Y. Mays, Deidre McCalla, Chirlane McCray, Pat Parker, Linda C. Powell, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Spring Redd, Gwendolyn Rogers, Kate Rushin, Ann Allen Shockley, Barbara Smith, Beverly Smith, Shirley O. Steele, Luisah Teish, Jameelah Waheed, Alice Walker, and Renita Weems. Barbara Smith is an independent scholar and was co-founder and publisher of Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press. She has been writer in residence and taught at numerous colleges and universities for over twenty-five years. The author of many books, articles, and essays, her most recent is The Truth That Never Hurts (also by Rutgers University Press).

Contents

• Preface to the Rutgers University Press Edition: xiii
• Acknowledgments: xix
• Homophobia in: xlvii
• Poem: lix
• The Damned: 6
• Debra: 13
• A Conversation: 31
• Something Latino Was Up With Us: 52
• The Black BackUps: 60
• The Buried Life and Poetry: 73
• Artists Without Art Form: 94
• Ive Been Thinking of Diana Sands: 106
• A Reading: 124
• Tar Beach: 145
• Dress and Soar Again: 159
• Maria de las Rosas: 170
• Where Will You Be?: 202
• Among the Things That Use to Be: 213
• Women of Summer: 222
• Last Letter from a Typical: 247
• Billy de Lye: 262
• Black Macho and Black Feminism: 275
• A Conversation: 285
• For Strong Women: 312

Bibliographic information

• Title: Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology; ACLS Humanities E-Book
• Editor: Barbara Smith
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press, 2000
• ISBN: 0813527538, 9780813527536
• Length: 364 pages
• Subjects: Literary Collections / Essays; Literary Criticism / American / African American; Literary Criticism / Women Authors; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Gender Studies; Social Science / Ethnic Studies / African American Studies; Social Science / Feminism & Feminist Theory; Social Science / Women's Studies