This was a page turner for me even though I listened to the audiobook. I will be purchasing this book, because there's some additional research I would like to do. Plus is a book I need to have available to me at any time.

There is so much information to learn and understand about Black relationships. I was awareof some of the information discussed, but there was a lot that learned during this journey.

I feel like everyone should read it.

The movie "Claudine" was mentioned in this book and yes I watched afterwards. All I have to say is, the system is messed up. It had me in my feelings.

This book provides a much-needed perspective on an aspect of systemic racism that's often ignored in America: the lingering effects of enslavement and oppression on marriage and intimate relationships. The stories are emotionally wrenching without being maudlin. A must-read for anyone interested in this subject.

I received a NetGalley ARC, and this is my honest review.

A detailed account of how love and marriage for black women arrived at this point in history.

Beginning with colonialism and tracing the history of black women's experience with love through personal narratives, laws, and historical events. This book explains how black women came to be systematically disadvantaged in western marriage practices and possible solutions to these challenges. The stories flowed into each other and told a continuous narrative. The explanations were engaging and easy for readers to follow. Readers will enjoy the untold history and story of events that shaped the lives of generations of Black women in America.

Black Women Black Love by Dianne M. Steward

9781580058186

337 Pages
Publisher: Perseus Books, Basic Books, Seal Press
Release Date: October 6, 2020

Nonfiction (Adult), African Americans, Black Women, Multicultural

This is an amazing book that chronicles the history of Black women in the United States. The author describes the lives of Black women during slave times and the consequences those times had on relationships between husbands and wives. One woman went as far as trying to kill her girl children, so they did not have to experience the degradation of living at the pleasure of the slave owner.

The statistical analysis is staggering in regards the percentage of married Black women compared with White or Hispanic. I am impressed with the amount of research done by the author. The writing is somewhat formal and academic, but the subject matter requires it. This is a book everyone interested in the topic.

From the beginnings of slavery, to the welfare system and everything in between, the author shows how this country has done as much damage as they can to the black family to keep it destroyed. I agree with most everything in the book, except the colorism part since I know of many women who are married and not fair complexioned, just like I know many women who are single and light skinned. Otherwise, there were a lot of truths in the book.

This book was free and sent to me an an ARC on NetGalley. However, all reviews are of my own opinions.

I really did struggle with this book for many reasons. I was excited to read it in the hope that it would grow my knowledge around BLM, however, I didn't get any of that. I found the first couple of pages quite understanding but then the footnotes became quite a big part in the book and I was getting fed up of going back and forwards so I eventually gave up reading the footnotes - but then I disconnected from the book because I wanted to know where the sources had come from. For me, it just felt like I was back in Uni and reading a paper as opposed to reading a story.

A truly compelling read about Black women in relationship to love, marriage, and domesticity. From digging into the dark history of Black love in the context of both progress made and where society still needs to go to delving behind statistics of eternally single Black women and the harmful stereotypes associated with them (eg “welfare queens”), this book is an important read about the issues of systemic racism and the work that still needs doing to push for equality.

An interesting read about black love.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Gallery Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

This book explores how the history of racism in America has resulted in low levels of marriage recidivism among black families today. I went into this read skeptical of how these lines were going to be drawn but were quickly drawn in by the amount of compelling historical data, academic research, and public policy that has clearly attacked or resulted in attacks on the ability of African Americans to form marriage partnerships. There is clear disparity that has been caused by structural forces that must be addressed.

This book is stunning and a must-read for anyone in social science or politics.