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Women, Race & Class

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Format: Paperback


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From one of our most important scholars and civil rights activist icon, a powerful study of the women’s liberation movement and the tangled knot of oppression facing Black women. “Angela Davis is herself a woman of undeniable courage. She should be heard.”—The New York Times Angela Davis provides a powerful history of the social and political influence of whiteness and elitism in feminism, from abolitionist days to the present, and demonstrates how the racist and classist biases of its leaders inevitably hampered any collective ambitions. While Black women were aided by some activists like Sarah and Angelina Grimke and the suffrage cause found unwavering support in Frederick Douglass, many women played on the fears of white supremacists for political gain rather than take an intersectional approach to liberation. Here, Davis not only contextualizes the legacy and pitfalls of civil and women’s rights activists, but also discusses Communist women, the murder of Emmitt Till, and Margaret Sanger’s racism. Davis shows readers how the inequalities between Black and white women influence the contemporary issues of rape, reproductive freedom, housework and child care in this bold and indispensable work. Read more


Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; First Edition (February 12, 1983)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 19


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.4 ounces


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.61 x 8 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #12,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #14 in Feminist Theory (Books) #26 in African American Demographic Studies (Books) #102 in Sociology (Books)


#14 in Feminist Theory (Books):


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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Great overview of history completely overlooked in K-12
Overall a very good book for those who want to learn about the intersectionality of women’s suffrage and abolition, as well as sexism and racism as they relate to classism in the 20th century. It offers a critical view of many historical figures within the feminist and abolitionist movements and their substantial flaws, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony, and others. One error within the book is in the first chapter. Twice Davis states that female slaves were the only victims of rape: “But women suffered in different ways as well, for they were victims of sexual abuse and other barbarous mistreatment that could only be inflicted on women.” (4) “Again, it is important to remember that the punishment inflicted on women exceeded in intensity the punishment suffered by their men, for women were not only whipped and mutilated, they were also raped.” (19) I do not doubt that female slaves were raped more regularly than male slaves, but it does erase the experiences of male slaves to say that masters only raped women. Men were raped and sodomized by masters in order to emasculate them as well (“buck breaking”). Davis does contradict these claims in chapter 11, though, when she acknowledges that both men and women were raped: “Together with flogging, rape was a terribly efficient method of keeping Black women and men alike in check.” (165) My one other critique is that the last chapter ended fairly abruptly. On the last page, Davis advocates for socialism as the singular solution to the domestic slavery of women, claiming that socialist countries have been the only ones wherein steps have been taken, but she does not elaborate or give any examples: “The only significant steps toward ending domestic slavery have in fact been taken in the existing socialist countries.” (220) It would have been nice to see the final chapter go on a little longer to substantiate that claim. This book is a very good primer for people to learn about the flawed origins of the women’s suffrage movement, its imperfect leaders, and how classism and racism marred the debate on issues like birth control and abortion rights. Figures like Frederick Douglass, W. E. B. DuBois, and Sojourner Truth are excellent people to read about more thoroughly after finishing this book, as well as the countless events, both encouraging and horrifying, that have not found a place in modern school curricula. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2020 by Luke Hudson

  • Angela Davis race women and class
A must read! Angela Davis talks about how women in the past worked so hard so we can have the freedom today
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2023 by Amazon Customer

  • Highly recommend
This book is perfect if you want to start learning more into systemic racism and slavery, especially how female slaves were treated as that’s very often entirely left out or extremely belittled. It gives very insightful viewpoints and speaks on topics that we rarely are allowed to even think or ponder on. Davis is quick to get to the point, while also giving us an insane amount of explanation and backstory. I would highly recommend this book to any and everyone. From my fellow black people that want to learn about areas the public school systems constantly ignore or white-wash/watered-down all the way to white people or any non black POC that wants to begin dismantling their own racial ignorance. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2021 by Kimone Murray

  • Worth reading even if it was published a while ago!
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in women's history and especially Black women's history. It discusses many topics not covered in your typical history class and not only is it very informative but it is very easy to read and has many well-researched and documented historical facts. I love Angela Davis's works and am very glad I was able to read this book! I definitely recommend you read it for yourself. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2021 by Mendoza-Padrón

  • Lent to a friend, buying another.
I really loved reading this book. It's painful and beautiful, yet focused and eloquent. I love the way Angela Davis writes, and this is probably my favorite book of hers that I've read. She is one of those public intellectuals whom you could sit back and listen to and feel transported into a clear view of the world which you could scarcely achieve through the power of your own mind. She is a powerhouse, and I wish more people would read books like this one. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2021 by Atay41

  • Full of nuance and overall a must read!
This book is a fantastic summation of the first and second wave women’s movements in the US. Davis provides phenomenal nuance and context to people and events and put them in a new light, under her scrutiny. She gives credit where credit is due, but is not afraid to call out sexism, racism, and classism, even within the women’s movement. Would highly recommend for anyone looking to learn more about the history of women’s suffrage and how it relates to class and race! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2020 by Michael Baril

  • Cool
Only used it for class never actually had to read it lol
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2022 by Luis

  • A must read
Wonderful book. If you want to understand the true history of the feminist and abolitionist movements & the ups and downs that come with race and gender relations ~ read it.
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2022 by Amazon Customer

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