Toni Cade Bambara's groundbreaking and newly edited anthology, The Black Woman, is back and is as inspiring as ever for the new generation. First published in 1970, this revolutionary edition, The Black Woman demonstrates the courage of Black Power activists. Feminists, academics, housewives and poets African-American women who not only struggled vigorously for racial equality, but also worked to balance the scale that weighed heavily against women in a male-dominated society. These extraordinary women defeated the odds and transcended the past in order to lay the groundwork for the future. With an innovative introduction written by celebrated author and Bambara's lifelong friend, Dr. Eleanor Traylor, THE BLACK WOMAN is just as timely, liberating and uplifting as it was when it was first published over thirty-five years ago.

The Black Woman, contains three never before published essays written by Bambara herself, and provides a voice for contributing authors such as Nikki Giovanni, Paule Marshall, and Alice Walker to discuss issues that are prevalent in today's society: motherhood, politics, racism or the "Double Jeopardy' dilemma of being black and female (and poor and urban) in America.

Bambara goes further to explore the essence of gender inequality and the myths associated with a black male patriarchy. Emerging writers speak up in regards to black male emasculation and the corollary myth of black female matriarchy, or "Blackhood", ensuing that these dissident voices illuminate the struggle for women to exist as people in their own right, apart from the men in their lives. Says Bambara, "The job then regarding 'roles' is to submerge all breezy definitions of manhood/womanhood (or reject them out of hand if you're not squeamish about being called 'neuter') until realistic definitions emerge through a commitment to Blackhood."

Fear, hope, and anger are at the core of this anthology; these emotions unifying and establishing one main goal, which is to bring about change in the lives of the African-American women. The Black Woman exemplifies many of those hard-won victories that proved change is not an impossible feat.

About the Authors
Toni Cade Bambara was the excelled author of six novels/short story collections that ' included The Salt Eaters, and Those Bones Are Not My Child. This versatile woman was also a documentary film maker and the editor of two revolutionary anthologies, the more famous being The Black Woman. Ms. Bambara passed away in 1996. Dr. Eleanor Traylor is an acclaimed writer, scholar and literary critic. She is a graduate professor in the Department of English at Howard University.

The Black Woman: An Anthology
Edited by: Toni Cade Bambara
Introduction written by Dr. Eleanor Traylor
Price: $14.00
ISBN: 0-7434-7697-2