Beyond Respectability

This book deconstructs the scholarship of black women about their existence, challenging such layers as race, class, and gender, with attention to detail, spanning historical thought to present.

It is some time since I have read a highly researched theoretical book and although my degree studies may have touched on aspects of equality and sociology, this book by acclaimed feminist Professor Britney C Cooper did stretch my ability to take in many concepts.
Overall the historical context of black women intellectuals and activism in the US was well outlined and I was intrigued to discover more about some of the prominent figures particularly Fannie Berrier Williams and Mary Church Terrell. After all, we are familiar with much of the life and speeches of Martin Luther King. But as Cooper outlines many black women felt alienated from the educational, intellectual and political activism developing during the 19th century and even through the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and 70s.
The descriptions of Anna Julia Cooper (not related) as "The Mother of Black Feminism" give readers a backdrop to the vocalisation of many women,, often brought up enslaved, now seeking education in places like Oberlin College and the NACW (National Association of Colored Women).
Women, through schools and often churches, defied the discrimination of black men against their sex and achieved much social improvement within US society.
However, as we still see today with 'Black Lives Matter' , the segregation continues.
Despite what some women fought for and could never have believed in the election of President Barack Obama, the feminist ideology would still have resented the position of equally intelligent First Lady, Michelle Obama as somewhat still encapsulated in her role as 'First Lady'.
As with many intellectuals the disputes, even amongst the women are exposed and often made me also feel that 'class' was(and still is) an overarching reason for inequality. How many of those in US society who are mostly being discriminated against would ever read this book?
There is also discussion of more recent black feminists such as Pauli Murray, who struggled with her sexuality compounding upon her 'blackness'. Speeches leading to violence are described as the Civil Rights Movement clashed with Black Power and for me there seemed an anger generally 'against' all men whether white or black.
However in troubling times that we see since the election of President Trump and resurgence of right wing ideologies, we must continue to allow the exploration and writing of intellectuals such as Cooper and hope the younger generations (of all colours) will try to overturn the rapid growth of hostility to those of other races, religions or sexual orientation that are seemingly marching forward.

Cooper does an excellent job of addressing the unrecognized struggles and triumphs of black academic women. It's a bit academic for public libraries, but could be a more serious title for someone who has finished the quick essays that Cooper contributed to the Crunk Feminist Collection.

Satisfies Both the Academic, Black Woman, and Historian in This Reader

This important work uncovers, or probably more accurately, RECOVERS, Black women's thought. In a world not prepared to hear them, this text combines an astute analysis with a fine hand with primary sources. Recommended for reading, teaching, and reference.