Black Women's Lives: Stories of Pain and Power

by Kristal Brent Zook

Kristal Brent Zook explores the lives of contemporary African America women from all walks of life. Based on her travels across America and years of interviewing and building relationships with women from a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds, she offers vivid archetypal portraits of a school principal in Georgia, a filmmaker in Los Angeles, a factory worker in Mississippi, a corporate executive in New York City, a prisoner in Seattle, and an organic farmer in Vermont, among others. Through these portraits, Black Women's Lives explores common overlapping themes while highlighting the shared dreams, hopes, and disappointments of ordinary women. This book also reveals the many challenges and inequalities that black women still face, and how far this nation has yet to travel if it is to live up to its promise to create an equal and just society for all citizens.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

263 pages, Paperback

First published February 9, 2006

Reviews

[Shà · Rating 5 out of 5]

she is amazing. I have never heard of her at all as an author at all. ive read articles she has written in various magazines and newspapers and seen her interview on various shows but this book was very interesting. a couple of stories she wrote about I remember reading headlines about and i knew a few of them personally too. it was heartbreaking and groundbreaking and not recognized enough. sad but true these things still go on w/o one bit of recognition.

[Joshua Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of all time. Author, Kristal Brent Zook covers and interviews the lives of African American women with totally different backgrounds and sheds light on their struggles, accomplishments and what it’s like to be a black women in their respective situations and careers. From a Principal in Georgia, a filmmaker in LA, a factory worker in Mississippi, a corporate executive in New York City, a prisoner in Seattle and an organic Farmer in Vermont to many others. This book describes how strong, resilient, smart and beautiful black women are. How no matter what they are put through or endure they still keep their heads held high and continue to push forward. Very inspiring book.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Various settings. 263 pp. This is a collection of, I assume, magazine essays pulled together into a book. The stories of each of the women are fascinating, although at times veer a bit toward inspiration porn. I enjoyed the last few essays more than the ones at the beginning; I thought they were just better written.

Found online at https://archive.org/details/blackwome...

Black Women's Lives: Stories of Pain and Power by Kristal Brent Zook

[Yofish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ten essays, all focusing on a particular woman who is black. It appears to be a bunch of magazine articles stapled together. (Literally, as the author is a magazine writer.) Most of the stories are interesting, but there’s a little too much of: look at what these women have overcome! The author just builds them up too much. Maybe this is less noticeable in a magazine piece, when it’s just one. But reading them all together….

[Gianna Costanzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional and powerful.

[The Urban Book Source · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Women’s Lives delivers bite sized stories that will fill it’s readers with pride as their eyes cross each page. Told through the stories of sisters, past and present, the pen of Ms. Zook paints a delightfully authentic picture of the roles of women, regardless of color. But for the everyday Black woman this is a celebration of their being and their struggle. It is seldom that a compilation of this kind covers ground as equally about women from all fronts, from the lesbian teen killed in Newark, NJ, and the teenage mother who drowned during hazing to the president of SoftSheen and the solo AIDS activist in Quincy, Fl., each were allowed their deserved 15 minutes of fame in the pages of this anthology. Kristal’s chapter titles adds to the relatable feel with simple headings such as “Worker”, “Sister”, “Activist”, and “Farmer”. This book is a spirit lifter, eye-opener, and breath of fresh air, all in a manageable 240 page package.

What did you like best about this book?
I loved how the author chose everyday women to highlight the struggles and triumphs Black women across the world experience.

What did you dislike about this book?
There wasn’t anything I disliked in particular, except I would have liked to know more about some of the women discussed.

How can the author improve this book?
I would like the author to add a little more background/or epilogue about a few of the women.