Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Vengeance Feminism by Kali Gross is a groundbreaking exploration of the often overlooked and misunderstood power of Black women’s anger. Gross, an award-winning historian, delves into the historical narratives of Black women who, when faced with systemic injustice and societal neglect, took justice into their own hands.

The book is a compelling blend of historical narrative and Black feminist analysis. Gross traces the stories of these women from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, focusing on those who operated outside the law in Philadelphia.

One of the standout features of Vengeance Feminism is Gross’s ability to humanize these historical figures while also critiquing the societal structures that forced them into such extreme measures. She provides a nuanced portrayal of these women, acknowledging their flaws and the moral ambiguities of their actions. This approach challenges the reader to reconsider traditional notions of heroism and justice.

Gross’s writing is both scholarly and accessible, making complex historical and feminist theories understandable for a broad audience. Her narrative is enriched with vivid descriptions and poignant anecdotes, bringing the past to life in a way that is both engaging and informative.

The thematic depth of Vengeance Feminism is another of its strengths. Gross explores the intersectionality of race, gender, and class, highlighting how these factors compounded the injustices faced by Black women.

Vengeance Feminism: The Power of Black Women’s Fury in Lawless Times is a powerful and thought-provoking work that offers a fresh perspective on the history of Black women’s resistance. Kali Gross has crafted a narrative that is both enlightening and inspiring, urging readers to recognize the strength and resilience of these women. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in feminist history, social justice, and the enduring power of righteous anger. Whether you’re a scholar or a casual reader, Vengeance Feminism will leave a lasting impact.

This book is in a league of its own. Real life stories of the numerous black women who didn’t just lay down & take it. They stood up for their own rights. The stories were from the 19th to 20th century even some current stories. These women had to endure so much & at times, it made me sad. Especially the last chapter that discussed the babies. I enjoyed the book, but at times it was a bit wordy and I found myself drifting off.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher & of course the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was pleasantly surprised to find this book took excerpts from past reports and newspapers to form the background of what Kali Gross goes on to explain as Vengeance Feminism. While written with an educational background, I believe this publication is one that people from all backgrounds could read and understand.

I felt many emotions while reading this. Anger, sadness, hopelessness, shame, relief... Feelings that we all need to take a moment to feel and ponder. In our fast paced lives we now live, it is easy to forget the struggles of women of the past; as well as the intersectionality of race and class. But if we don't remember and respect the efforts our ancestors put in to get us to where we are today, we are likely to relive these setbacks.

Thank you Kali Gross. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of her publications.

Book Name: Vengeance Feminism
Series: NA
Author: Kali Nichole Gross
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

In a world where Black women are castigated and caricatured for being angry, Vengeance Feminism tells the story of those who leaned into their fury, crafting a different kind of ideology that scratched and stabbed and sometimes even succeeded.

Women, especially Black women, are often characterised as angry just for showing their passion or frustration at a world that is not only designed to keep them down, but often kills them for stepping out of line.

This book is full of snippets of stories where black women took their vengeance into their own hands. Their stories woven together to create a world where maybe they had the opportunity to get back a little of what the world stole from them.

In Australia at the moment there is a lot of focus on the astronomical number of women who are murdered by men. Every year the number increases. Feminism and how women are viewed and treated within Australian culture is front and centre as I was reading this and I could totally empathise with the rage that the people in this book were feeling. The feminist movement we have today owes a lot to the people in this book. It’s not all pussy hats and #GirlBoss.

Thanks to #NetGallery and publisher for a copy of this book.

Genre: nonfiction, history
Format: Digital

From an award-winning historian, an alternative model of feminism driven by the legacy of Black women who took justice into their own hands

So often failed by the state, demeaned by racism and sexism, and denied respectable means of redress, Black women have nevertheless patiently resisted myriad injustices. Yet history shows an alternative path. It involved razors, pistols, hatchets, and blackjacks, and playacting for courts and reporters—whatever it took to beat the system. In a world where Black women are castigated and caricatured for being angry, Vengeance Feminism tells the story of those who leaned into their fury, crafting a different kind of ideology that scratched and stabbed and sometimes even succeeded.

Vengeance Feminism is about the Black women who hit back—not always figuratively, and not necessarily nobly either. Weaving together historical narrative with Black feminist analysis, Gross illuminates the stories of Black women who fought for their dignity on their own terms, from the nineteenth-century “badger thieves” who robbed men on the streets of Philadelphia to victims of intimate partner violence who defended their honor and bodily autonomy with deadly force.

Reckoning with women who lied, robbed, and cheated a racist, misogynistic world, Vengeance Feminism grapples with the volatile power of violence in pursuit of racial and gender justice.

My Take:
This is for the folk who think that women, especially Black women, have passively accepted whatever injustice befallen them. This text gives examples of times where Black women have chosen another form of action: one that "crosses the bloody line in the sand" and it a glorious piece of scholarly work. Add it to your reading lists on women's history, Black feminism, womanism, Black studies, and Black literature lists: it will give historical context to women real and imagined, throughout time and space.

I think this book was really powerful with its message. The writing shows a level of research, passion, and knowledge about the subject that made me, as a reader, feel something when reading. For a book like this that requires so much information, it was delivered in a way that was accessible and allowed for readers to truly understand the scope of the issue and the history that follows it.