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When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: A Hip-Hop Feminist Breaks It Down
For a smart young black woman from the South Bronx carving a niche for herself as a writer, the f-word was feminism. Joan Morgan's book debut, 'WHEN CHICKENHEADS COME HOME TO ROOST', is a passionate, funny - and occasionally self-indulgent - look at the contradictions inherent in being both a strong woman and an African American sister attempting to process the machismo of the hip-hop world through the perceptions of her own strongly feminine soul. "As post-Civil Rights, post-feminist, post-soul children of hip-hop," Morgan writes, "we have a dire need for the truth." Her book chronicles the quest to fulfill that need through a series of essays ranging from social issues like the blatant misogyny of rap music ("From Fly-girls to Bitches and Hos"), the mythic stereotype of the strong black woman ("Strongblackwomen"), and the epidemic of single motherhood in the black community ("Babymother") to wickedly witty takes on her own life ("Lovenotes," "Chickenhead Envy").
Morgan is gifted with that rarest of all talents: her own voice. Her language is vivid and imagistic, its rhythms dipping effortlessly between the beat of the street and the meter of pure poetry. In this look at hood versus womanhood, Morgan serves up many of the same conclusions that sociologists have offered in drier, more academic form - but brings them to life with the freshness of her literary talent. - Patrizia DiLucchio
RUNNING TIME ⇒ 5hrs. and 32mins.
©2017 Joan Morgan (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Audible Audio
First published March 10, 1999
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About the author
Joan Morgan
30 books58 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Joan Morgan is an award-winning journalist and author and a provocative cultural critic. A pioneering hip-hop journalist and entertainment writer, she began her professional writing career freelancing for The Village Voice before having her work published by Vibe, Interview, MS, More, Spin, Giant and numerous other publications. Formerly the Executive Editor of Essence and one of the original staff writers at VIBE, Joan Morgan is the author of When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: My Life as a Hip-Hop Feminist (1999). Her work appears in numerous college texts, as well as books on feminism, music and African-American culture. She is currently a visiting instructor at Duke University where she teaches "The History of Hip-Hop Journalism".
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Joan Morgan is an award-winning journalist and author and a provocative cultural critic. A pioneering hip-hop journalist and entertainment writer, she began her professional writing career freelancing for The Village Voice before having her work published by Vibe, Interview, MS, More, Spin, Giant and numerous other publications. Formerly the Executive Editor of Essence and one of the original staff writers at VIBE, Joan Morgan is the author of When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: My Life as a Hip-Hop Feminist (1999). Her work appears in numerous college texts, as well as books on feminism, music and African-American culture. She is currently a visiting instructor at Duke University where she teaches "The History of Hip-Hop Journalism".
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
August 30, 2014
Started out really good....I wanted so badly to like When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost, but I just can't fuck with Joan Morgan's assessment of hip hop feminism in this book.
From what I understand after reading this book, hip hop feminism isn't so much interested in ending sexist oppression as it is in figuring out how to work within a sexist society to achieve economic success and find a man particularly because hip hop feminism likes the "benefits" of a sexist society like chivalry and not having to pay for dates.
and how do you write an entire book about feminism without discussing patriarchy not even once? and how do you have a feminism not interested in challenging gender norms?
I guess this would be an acceptable book for someone who didn't know SHIT about black women and feminism...but I would strongly urge them to continue their studies with the names mentioned in this book (Michelle Wallace, Audre Lorde, and bell hooks, specifically)
From what I understand after reading this book, hip hop feminism isn't so much interested in ending sexist oppression as it is in figuring out how to work within a sexist society to achieve economic success and find a man particularly because hip hop feminism likes the "benefits" of a sexist society like chivalry and not having to pay for dates.
and how do you write an entire book about feminism without discussing patriarchy not even once? and how do you have a feminism not interested in challenging gender norms?
I guess this would be an acceptable book for someone who didn't know SHIT about black women and feminism...but I would strongly urge them to continue their studies with the names mentioned in this book (Michelle Wallace, Audre Lorde, and bell hooks, specifically)
July 16, 2020
Grab a seat and a glass of wine because this review is about to be a longggg one.
Without holding back, I’ll just admit that this is probably one of the worst books I’ve ever read and definitely the worst book I’ve picked up this year. I had to write some notes at the end in order for this review to not come off as pure reaction but as concern for the frame of consciousness Joan Morgan was in when she wrote this in 1999.
Fair warning: this book is highly cisnormative, heteronormative, lesbophobic, and chauvinist—in as long as it benefits Black men. At best, it is a Black men’s guide to treat Black women with some form of respect.
When bell hooks said that patriarchy has no gender, this is definitely the kind of writer she was thinking of. Which is amusing seeing as Morgan mentions hooks as an influencer on her politics throughout the book especially in the afterword during her interview with Dr. Treva B. Lindsey.
Morgan speaks of Angela Y. Davis, Paula Giddings, Patricia Hill Collins, Audre Lorde and several other theorists that would leave you hoping that she values the intellectual imprint of feminist epistemologies.
But that’s not the case unfortunately.
Morgan dabbles in egregious anti-intellectualism and further justifies it during her interview in the afterword.
Her labeling this text as feminist is feigning to the mission of feminism and misleading to young women and people that stumble upon this book without having fully-formed their politics thinking this book could be a germane guide in their respective foundations.
Ecclectism and egalitarianism roam this book within the cloak of "hip-hop feminism".
There are certain critical fulcrums missing in Morgan’s feminist process throughout this book. The most evident being race in variation to whiteness—outside of woes about white feminism, and class in variation to the global precarity of the underprivileged class especially considering that she discusses the lives of several middle-income Black women in her life—whilst including observed events*.
Other displeasing parts of this book include her lamentable slut-shaming of sex workers and women who partook in the sexual revolution.
Morgan goes as far as to say that the sexual revolution is to blame for the rampant disperse of HIV/AIDS without providing any form of empirical evidence*.
Morgan also blames single parent households for the social dysfunctions of the Black community. She shares her dire need to have a man to raise a family with as some form of universal cure. (I wish I was making any of this up. I’m not). The message is that Black heterosexual love must hold for the survival of the Black community.
Morgan goes overboard when she expresses that she’s anti-child support laws that require fathers to own up to their responsibilities claiming that they extort Black men. However, she does cherry this with the opinion that fathers should have more input in the lives of their children besides the fiduciary aspect of it all.
In her attempt to auction this book as a Black feminist requirement, she’s exposed myself and several other readers to an unneeded pick-me thought disguised as feminism with a dash of "let’s try to understand Black men better".
Needless to say, I’ve been disappointed. So disappointed. I can’t believe that someone can displace Chimamanda in writing so insufficiently about feminism.
Any hopes I had of this book exploring problematic lyrics of hip-hop and rap music in a critical, meaningful way were completely torched by the time I got halfway through. I still feel so ripped off because its titling as a "hip-hop feminist" read is especial to the Black experience.
If you’re in the formative stage of your politics and land on this book, just look up the revered thinkers referenced herein because everything else is quite the disaster.
____________________________________________
In order of appearance:
* All the men & women references are made in regard to cisgender, heterosexual ideals that Joan Morgan projects throughout the book.
* There are hardly any tangible statistics in this book; besides scribbled source notes and the index, this is purely based on opinion and not feminist fact, praxis or thought.
* This failure to present us with quantifiable evidence of facts in her book—while indulging an anecdotal nexus—is what is being used to defend the wild anti-intellectualism broached as feminism.
Without holding back, I’ll just admit that this is probably one of the worst books I’ve ever read and definitely the worst book I’ve picked up this year. I had to write some notes at the end in order for this review to not come off as pure reaction but as concern for the frame of consciousness Joan Morgan was in when she wrote this in 1999.
Fair warning: this book is highly cisnormative, heteronormative, lesbophobic, and chauvinist—in as long as it benefits Black men. At best, it is a Black men’s guide to treat Black women with some form of respect.
When bell hooks said that patriarchy has no gender, this is definitely the kind of writer she was thinking of. Which is amusing seeing as Morgan mentions hooks as an influencer on her politics throughout the book especially in the afterword during her interview with Dr. Treva B. Lindsey.
Morgan speaks of Angela Y. Davis, Paula Giddings, Patricia Hill Collins, Audre Lorde and several other theorists that would leave you hoping that she values the intellectual imprint of feminist epistemologies.
But that’s not the case unfortunately.
Morgan dabbles in egregious anti-intellectualism and further justifies it during her interview in the afterword.
Her labeling this text as feminist is feigning to the mission of feminism and misleading to young women and people that stumble upon this book without having fully-formed their politics thinking this book could be a germane guide in their respective foundations.
Ecclectism and egalitarianism roam this book within the cloak of "hip-hop feminism".
There are certain critical fulcrums missing in Morgan’s feminist process throughout this book. The most evident being race in variation to whiteness—outside of woes about white feminism, and class in variation to the global precarity of the underprivileged class especially considering that she discusses the lives of several middle-income Black women in her life—whilst including observed events*.
Other displeasing parts of this book include her lamentable slut-shaming of sex workers and women who partook in the sexual revolution.
Morgan goes as far as to say that the sexual revolution is to blame for the rampant disperse of HIV/AIDS without providing any form of empirical evidence*.
Morgan also blames single parent households for the social dysfunctions of the Black community. She shares her dire need to have a man to raise a family with as some form of universal cure. (I wish I was making any of this up. I’m not). The message is that Black heterosexual love must hold for the survival of the Black community.
Morgan goes overboard when she expresses that she’s anti-child support laws that require fathers to own up to their responsibilities claiming that they extort Black men. However, she does cherry this with the opinion that fathers should have more input in the lives of their children besides the fiduciary aspect of it all.
In her attempt to auction this book as a Black feminist requirement, she’s exposed myself and several other readers to an unneeded pick-me thought disguised as feminism with a dash of "let’s try to understand Black men better".
Needless to say, I’ve been disappointed. So disappointed. I can’t believe that someone can displace Chimamanda in writing so insufficiently about feminism.
Any hopes I had of this book exploring problematic lyrics of hip-hop and rap music in a critical, meaningful way were completely torched by the time I got halfway through. I still feel so ripped off because its titling as a "hip-hop feminist" read is especial to the Black experience.
If you’re in the formative stage of your politics and land on this book, just look up the revered thinkers referenced herein because everything else is quite the disaster.
____________________________________________
In order of appearance:
* All the men & women references are made in regard to cisgender, heterosexual ideals that Joan Morgan projects throughout the book.
* There are hardly any tangible statistics in this book; besides scribbled source notes and the index, this is purely based on opinion and not feminist fact, praxis or thought.
* This failure to present us with quantifiable evidence of facts in her book—while indulging an anecdotal nexus—is what is being used to defend the wild anti-intellectualism broached as feminism.
March 8, 2016
Reading this book is not so much like learning or studying Black feminism in the era of hip hop, with a culture and climate steeped in bold misogyny wrapped in a tight flow over a fly beat. It's more like listening in on your older cousin and her girlfriends discuss life in the 90s as 20 or 30-somethings, trying to find their way as women with obstacles that their foremothers couldn't have blueprinted even if they tried.
This is the beginning of educated, passionate Black women not really sure how to go about dating their less than focused counterparts. This is about Black women taking on too much and realizing that "strong Black woman" is not at all the cross she wants to bear. This is about goal diggin and gold diggin'; embracing the right kind of love; inequalities on both sides of the coin (should men really HAVE to support children they never wanted? You might be surprised at Joan's answer), and making space for yourself in new places that hesitate to welcome you into the fold.
I loved nearly every page of this book, but the "lovenote" chapter spoke to me the most, so much so that I wanted to send Joan Morgan a tithe for such reverent gospel on how Black woman should love themselves.
I can't say enough how great this book is, even if you don't agree with her. Joan's writing makes you feel like Black womanhood is a treasure, whether the topic is welfare queens, chickenheads, bohemian artists or professionals. She makes our rites to a melanin sisterhood enticing, so that whether you believe in feminism or not, you'll want to embrace the special qualities that translate to Black womanhood. I wish there were more books on the shelves with her name on them.
I also wish there was a similar book for those of us who hit adulthood in the '00s. This will do in the meantime until we get one.
This is the beginning of educated, passionate Black women not really sure how to go about dating their less than focused counterparts. This is about Black women taking on too much and realizing that "strong Black woman" is not at all the cross she wants to bear. This is about goal diggin and gold diggin'; embracing the right kind of love; inequalities on both sides of the coin (should men really HAVE to support children they never wanted? You might be surprised at Joan's answer), and making space for yourself in new places that hesitate to welcome you into the fold.
I loved nearly every page of this book, but the "lovenote" chapter spoke to me the most, so much so that I wanted to send Joan Morgan a tithe for such reverent gospel on how Black woman should love themselves.
I can't say enough how great this book is, even if you don't agree with her. Joan's writing makes you feel like Black womanhood is a treasure, whether the topic is welfare queens, chickenheads, bohemian artists or professionals. She makes our rites to a melanin sisterhood enticing, so that whether you believe in feminism or not, you'll want to embrace the special qualities that translate to Black womanhood. I wish there were more books on the shelves with her name on them.
I also wish there was a similar book for those of us who hit adulthood in the '00s. This will do in the meantime until we get one.
November 6, 2013
I feel like this book misrepresents itself. She starts off raising legitimate questions about the double-binds Black feminism imposes on women who both identify as such and don't. However by the end of the book, she's coming down on the side of finding it okay that women want to be taken care of by men and showered with gifts and free meals. It moves from thoughtfully incisive to shallow criticism (if it can even be called that). I was ready to embrace a different articulation of feminism as generated by a difference in context, however I'm not ready to be that unthinking in my feminism and I'm not letting myself off the hook for indulging the so-called "privileges" sexism affords women, because I know in reality, they have very damaging results. Feminist-identified folks interested in growing their politics and challenging themselves to be proactively critical about all expressions of sexism and heteronormativity should probably steer clear of this title.
December 21, 2022
Joan Morgan is a vibrant, intellectual powerhouse of a writer, but her thought train here is more than a little schizophrenic.
Not to be a picker of nits, but one cannot spend 260+ pages saying how black men need to be more responsible and accountable, and then be flippant and dismissive about the crimes of Mike Tyson and O.J. Simpson. And we’re not talking about traffic violations or jaywalking here, we’re talking about violent and brutal crimes against women. If you’re going to call out high school boyfriend A for infidelity or college boyfriend B for insensitivity, then you better, by god, give reckoning to celebrities C and D for f-ing RAPE and MURDER.
Secondly, and less importantly, don’t say that your white boyfriend treated you decidedly better than your black boyfriends, and then qualify that remark with something like, “of course white guys are more respectful, they have less to deal with.” If you’re asking EBM’s (“endangered black men”) to step up their game, don’t disrespect them by giving them an easy out. Yes, absolutely, black men in this country have a LOT more shit to deal with than white men like me, but if you’re going to use that to excuse their misogyny then why write this book?
Chickenheads is a black feminist manifesto that is more than deserving of the recognition and praise it has received. I’m just a little mystified as to why the author, who is a fighter at heart, would occasionally and arbitrarily pull her punches. When you’ve got sexism on the ropes, knock that sonofabitch out!
Not to be a picker of nits, but one cannot spend 260+ pages saying how black men need to be more responsible and accountable, and then be flippant and dismissive about the crimes of Mike Tyson and O.J. Simpson. And we’re not talking about traffic violations or jaywalking here, we’re talking about violent and brutal crimes against women. If you’re going to call out high school boyfriend A for infidelity or college boyfriend B for insensitivity, then you better, by god, give reckoning to celebrities C and D for f-ing RAPE and MURDER.
Secondly, and less importantly, don’t say that your white boyfriend treated you decidedly better than your black boyfriends, and then qualify that remark with something like, “of course white guys are more respectful, they have less to deal with.” If you’re asking EBM’s (“endangered black men”) to step up their game, don’t disrespect them by giving them an easy out. Yes, absolutely, black men in this country have a LOT more shit to deal with than white men like me, but if you’re going to use that to excuse their misogyny then why write this book?
Chickenheads is a black feminist manifesto that is more than deserving of the recognition and praise it has received. I’m just a little mystified as to why the author, who is a fighter at heart, would occasionally and arbitrarily pull her punches. When you’ve got sexism on the ropes, knock that sonofabitch out!
June 15, 2023
DNF @ 29%
I am not the target audience for this book, admittedly. That's OK, because I don't need a book outlining experiences that I cannot and will not ever have or understand to be for me or even cater to me.
But this one just didn't work for me. For one thing, it felt SO VERY DATED. All of the hip hop slang and lingo undermined and obscured the points that I think that Morgan was trying to make, and instead of feeling fresh and new and uplifting (as I'm sure it must have when it was written), it feels awkward and kinda cringey to listen to now.
This could very well be due to the fact that I'm a 40 year old white woman who just doesn't get it. Entirely possible. But... I am contemporary to this book, and when it was published, I was 17, and MUCH of the cultural attitudes and language and style etc that were written about here were very familiar to me, even if I was not part of it personally. It was relevant and prevalent in my formative years, even if it didn't form ME, if that makes sense. But still, reading this now, the voice of this book just seemed odd and distracting because it's no longer relevant, and the language and culture have moved on.
But the MESSAGE should still be relevant, right? And that was another aspect that didn't work for me. I found myself wondering just what Morgan's argument here is, because it seemed like she was arguing for a "feminism" that is the patriarchy rebranded. Don't get me wrong, I am all for a feminism that includes anyone and everyone who claims it, and won't exclude anyone who wants that to mean something different than I do... But the way that this seemed to be an apology and excusal of patriarchy, a defense of patriarchal attitudes and (what we now call) toxic masculinity, misogyny, slut shaming, AND homophobia (since Morgan went out of her way to multiple times clarify that she's NOT a lesbian despite being "feminist")...
Yeah, no. Did not work for me at all. DNF.
I am not the target audience for this book, admittedly. That's OK, because I don't need a book outlining experiences that I cannot and will not ever have or understand to be for me or even cater to me.
But this one just didn't work for me. For one thing, it felt SO VERY DATED. All of the hip hop slang and lingo undermined and obscured the points that I think that Morgan was trying to make, and instead of feeling fresh and new and uplifting (as I'm sure it must have when it was written), it feels awkward and kinda cringey to listen to now.
This could very well be due to the fact that I'm a 40 year old white woman who just doesn't get it. Entirely possible. But... I am contemporary to this book, and when it was published, I was 17, and MUCH of the cultural attitudes and language and style etc that were written about here were very familiar to me, even if I was not part of it personally. It was relevant and prevalent in my formative years, even if it didn't form ME, if that makes sense. But still, reading this now, the voice of this book just seemed odd and distracting because it's no longer relevant, and the language and culture have moved on.
But the MESSAGE should still be relevant, right? And that was another aspect that didn't work for me. I found myself wondering just what Morgan's argument here is, because it seemed like she was arguing for a "feminism" that is the patriarchy rebranded. Don't get me wrong, I am all for a feminism that includes anyone and everyone who claims it, and won't exclude anyone who wants that to mean something different than I do... But the way that this seemed to be an apology and excusal of patriarchy, a defense of patriarchal attitudes and (what we now call) toxic masculinity, misogyny, slut shaming, AND homophobia (since Morgan went out of her way to multiple times clarify that she's NOT a lesbian despite being "feminist")...
Yeah, no. Did not work for me at all. DNF.
May 12, 2017
This book made me cringe. What's interesting is that I bought it about 9 years ago, read half of it and loved it. Time is a masterpiece. Morgan claims that she wants to uplift the black community through hip hop feminism but doing so, she tears us apart, mainly black women. There is much talk about black-on-black crime and degradation. Worse, is her claim that she is seeking a feminism that holds the black community accountable and does not marginalize black women as victims. Yet, she only seems to hold black women accountable and paints trifling black men as victims and in need of love. She finds a way to simultaneously criticize black feminist academics and shame "hoes." However, she offers an analysis as to why black rappers are so misogynistic; apparently its a cover. Moreover, this work is extremely hetero-normative and borderline homophobic. The only time she mentions sexual orientation is her description of being mistaken for a lesbian. Of course, there is no mention of the trans community. Time has changed. If Morgan wants this work to mean anything, as it once did for me as an undergrad, she needs an updated edition.
August 19, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I am ashamed to admit that I've owned the paperback copy of this book for YEARS, and am just now reading it thanks to a newly released audiobook that turned up on my library Hoopla account. Now I need to read my print copy, and take all the notes. To read this review in its entirety and to see a video of Joan Morgan speaking about Hip Hop and Feminism click here
September 25, 2017
This book was great. I'm not going to say it belongs with the works of bell hooks or Audre Lorde as some great polemic of black feminist/womanist thought, it definitely sits in the pantheon of books by Black women about feminism/womanism for them in their experience. I laughed and I wondered how I can make things better. She of this book ages well, some of the slang doesn't, but Black men dan women are still going through the same relationship issues they did before, although now with more popular input from social media and hoteps and self-help people and Steve gotdamned Harvey.
April 28, 2016
I really wish I had read this book earlier in life. It was funny, thought provoking, and just a great read. I love books that make you think. If you consider yourself a feminist, this book will cause you to really think about a lot of things. I would recommend this for all women coming of age in this society. This book is about 15 years old, but so little has changed. Follow this link for more thoughts on this book https://youtu.be/8V4Zpmu1xek
March 1, 2021
I read this book so you didn’t have to. Trust the one and two star reviews.
June 7, 2017
Not at all what I was expecting. Every chapter drips with internalized misogyny which makes for a rather disappointing read, especially from a writer who considers herself a feminist. I wouldn't recommend.
June 7, 2018
I don’t know what took me so long to read this book! It was awesome!
November 25, 2025
had to read this for school unfortunately…
‘feminism’ that’s more considered with telling black women to fix themselves, make excuses for black men’s violence against them and acting as though the patriarchy is just something black women can pick and choose what we wanna keep and what we don’t. this made me insanely upset because it’s the same dismissive stuff i’ve heard all my life whenever i speak on issues affecting black women but somehow because it has the pro black label attached to it, it’s okay? a no from me. maybe her articles are better…
‘feminism’ that’s more considered with telling black women to fix themselves, make excuses for black men’s violence against them and acting as though the patriarchy is just something black women can pick and choose what we wanna keep and what we don’t. this made me insanely upset because it’s the same dismissive stuff i’ve heard all my life whenever i speak on issues affecting black women but somehow because it has the pro black label attached to it, it’s okay? a no from me. maybe her articles are better…
June 27, 2018
Has some issues - heteronormativity, respectability politics, the “missing black daddy”/“downfall of the black nuclear family = downfall of society” trope (she must not have read about Moynihan at this point), the conflation of womanism and black feminism (similar, and connected, but not quite the same), and of course, the titular “good girls vs. Chickenheads” (AKA “pick-me”) trope. However, this book is gorgeous in its imperfections - it’s a non-academic (at the time), young black woman, speaking her mind on the world around her. The new edition contains an interview with Morgan where she speaks to how her feminism has changed since “Chickenheads” was published, and she says she no longer identifies as a hip-hop feminist, but I now see why this book is so important to black feminist thought - I will forever respect writers who talk about important social issues in language regular folks can understand, and that’s exactly what she does here. The book is still so relevant (just substitute hotep/fuckboy in for EBD and “Instagram girl” in for “Chickenhead”) and I thoroughly encourage anyone who thinks deeply about black culture, hip-hop in particular, to give it a read.
April 11, 2018
I read this book as a sophomore in college and at that time, I read it and moved on, unable to appreciate it at that time. Rereading it at this point in my life... It’s speaking a whole new language. I love that Joan Morgan is speaking to the grays and not letting anyone off the hook. Sure, there are things she did not address (heteronormativity, homophobia, rejection of capitalism). However, the amount of courage it must have taken to be vulnerable and write this book when she did... mad respect.
April 8, 2022
Reading When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost was a reminder of a couple of things:
1-Feminism is not the same for all women & that's okay. I also think this can be a source of frustration and cause tension. I think this can be a great beginning of a discussion on what feminism means and how it can benefit women and men.
2. Inclusiveness is still a work in progress. Let us not forget that LGBTQ+ voices deserve to be heard. This is a glaring omission that I wonder if Morgan would address if the opportunity presented itself. I suspect the answer may fall somewhere along the lines of this is a book about relationships between men and women with Morgan using some of her lived experience as an example.
3. Love of money as the root of all evil-a lot of the time I agree with this, but I think this is too simple an explanation for why women may choose to pursue men with money. Morgan does a great job getting to the details, some of which I don't agree with-more on that later.
I bought When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost in 2012 according to the Amazon receipt that I still had stuck between the pages. If I'm honest with myself, I don't remember it being extraordinarily great and memorable. I do remember thinking that it was part of the books I read that year that made me decide to start documenting what I think about what I read, which is how I ended up on Goodreads to begin with. I think it's fair to say that this book has a bit of a nostalgia attached for me because I remember the late 1990s as my introduction to adulthood by going to college and really starting to learn about feminism in an academic setting. When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost is by no means an academic masterpiece and I don't think that was Morgan's intent when writing. This book tackles some taboo topics regarding the man/woman dynamic, it definitely will generate some response as you read either shaking your head in agreement, disagreement, amazement, or incredulity. Morgan writes early on that her intent in writing was to push back complacency because "our ancestors' struggles, accomplishments, and errors may have blessed us with an acute sense of analysis, but privilege and comfort make us slow to initiate change" (22).
If you ask someone to define feminism, the response will vary, but there will always be at least one that will include hating men in some form. Morgan is clear in that for her feminism is not about hating men, but "racism and the will to survive it creates a sense of intraracial loyalty that makes it impossible for black women to turn our backs on black men-even in their ugliest and most sexist of moments. I needed a feminism that would allow us to continue loving ourselves and the brothers who hurt us without letting race loyalty buy us early tombstones" (36). To be more clear, feminism should not be defined solely by victimization because we are so much more than that. Knowing this and not allowing it to become a superwoman cloak over one's spirit is a balancing act. "We need a feminism that possesses the same fundamental understanding held true by any student of hip hop. Truth can't be found in the voice of any one rapper but in the juxtaposition of many. The keys that unlock the riches of contemporary black female identity lie not in choosing Latifah over Lil Kim, or even Foxy Brown over Salt N Pepa. They lie at the magical intersection where those contrary voices meet- the juncture where "truth" is no longer black and white but subtle, intriguing shades of gray" (62). What makes this book interesting to me is the how it can appear hypocritical to want to be independent, have a successful career, be a boss in all areas of life until apparently you choose not to be. I think this what Morgan means by shades of gray.
Something to think about-concept of strongblackwoman & endangeredblackman. Is it easier to live according to what society tells you to be or to break free from expectations and live according to self imposed expectations? I'm reminded of a meme I occasionally see on Facebook that goes something like people don't tend to change behaviors that get them attention (emphasis on negative behavior). Another question-how does this fit with feminism?
Things went a little south for me with babymother & chickenhead envy chapters because this is where I think the hypocrisy (real or imagined) is on full display. Politics is personal and trying to separate the two is futile. As a single parent, I don't lament being single as a curse on my son's future. Statistics may be math, but I think there's room to question as numbers can be manipulated to prove a point. Yes there's mention of the "breakdown" of the Black family or in clearer terms, lack of traditional nuclear families. I wish Morgan addressed that some parents aren't together due to death of a parent, or in some cases because it is for the best interest of the parent and child to be separated from the other parent due to abuse. I think family should not be limited by blood relationship and that children benefit from being surrounded by people that love and care for them-that hopefully is not limited to biological parents. It was frustrating to read her opinion on men having a choice to parent a child, which my response would be men are just as liable for using birth control as women. What's stopping him from using a condom or being choosy who he has unprotected sex with? When a parent chooses to not provide financial and emotional support-to me that is essentially giving up parental rights. It takes communication to make a relationship work and behavior is part of communication, whether that will ever be acknowledged is another story.
Last point-chickenhead envy is a lot to process. My impression-to "win" a woman must straddle two worlds-traditional role of helpmeet to a man while having her own career/goals (somewhere in the mix have the man's approval and get him to bankroll it if possible). This chapter is built up to convince the reader that good girls finish last but there's an about face at the end with it being said wait on Prince Charming to learn that he needs a "good girl" not a chickenhead". Sigh.
Because this is getting way too long, I'll stop here. I think this is an accessible book for anyone who's interested in learning more about feminism and Black women in a non threatening academic text. It is not without flaws and there are definitely several talking points. I'd recommend this to jumpstart a conversation about men/women/relationships--while acknowledging what's missing, what should be fixed, etc.
1-Feminism is not the same for all women & that's okay. I also think this can be a source of frustration and cause tension. I think this can be a great beginning of a discussion on what feminism means and how it can benefit women and men.
2. Inclusiveness is still a work in progress. Let us not forget that LGBTQ+ voices deserve to be heard. This is a glaring omission that I wonder if Morgan would address if the opportunity presented itself. I suspect the answer may fall somewhere along the lines of this is a book about relationships between men and women with Morgan using some of her lived experience as an example.
3. Love of money as the root of all evil-a lot of the time I agree with this, but I think this is too simple an explanation for why women may choose to pursue men with money. Morgan does a great job getting to the details, some of which I don't agree with-more on that later.
I bought When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost in 2012 according to the Amazon receipt that I still had stuck between the pages. If I'm honest with myself, I don't remember it being extraordinarily great and memorable. I do remember thinking that it was part of the books I read that year that made me decide to start documenting what I think about what I read, which is how I ended up on Goodreads to begin with. I think it's fair to say that this book has a bit of a nostalgia attached for me because I remember the late 1990s as my introduction to adulthood by going to college and really starting to learn about feminism in an academic setting. When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost is by no means an academic masterpiece and I don't think that was Morgan's intent when writing. This book tackles some taboo topics regarding the man/woman dynamic, it definitely will generate some response as you read either shaking your head in agreement, disagreement, amazement, or incredulity. Morgan writes early on that her intent in writing was to push back complacency because "our ancestors' struggles, accomplishments, and errors may have blessed us with an acute sense of analysis, but privilege and comfort make us slow to initiate change" (22).
If you ask someone to define feminism, the response will vary, but there will always be at least one that will include hating men in some form. Morgan is clear in that for her feminism is not about hating men, but "racism and the will to survive it creates a sense of intraracial loyalty that makes it impossible for black women to turn our backs on black men-even in their ugliest and most sexist of moments. I needed a feminism that would allow us to continue loving ourselves and the brothers who hurt us without letting race loyalty buy us early tombstones" (36). To be more clear, feminism should not be defined solely by victimization because we are so much more than that. Knowing this and not allowing it to become a superwoman cloak over one's spirit is a balancing act. "We need a feminism that possesses the same fundamental understanding held true by any student of hip hop. Truth can't be found in the voice of any one rapper but in the juxtaposition of many. The keys that unlock the riches of contemporary black female identity lie not in choosing Latifah over Lil Kim, or even Foxy Brown over Salt N Pepa. They lie at the magical intersection where those contrary voices meet- the juncture where "truth" is no longer black and white but subtle, intriguing shades of gray" (62). What makes this book interesting to me is the how it can appear hypocritical to want to be independent, have a successful career, be a boss in all areas of life until apparently you choose not to be. I think this what Morgan means by shades of gray.
Something to think about-concept of strongblackwoman & endangeredblackman. Is it easier to live according to what society tells you to be or to break free from expectations and live according to self imposed expectations? I'm reminded of a meme I occasionally see on Facebook that goes something like people don't tend to change behaviors that get them attention (emphasis on negative behavior). Another question-how does this fit with feminism?
Things went a little south for me with babymother & chickenhead envy chapters because this is where I think the hypocrisy (real or imagined) is on full display. Politics is personal and trying to separate the two is futile. As a single parent, I don't lament being single as a curse on my son's future. Statistics may be math, but I think there's room to question as numbers can be manipulated to prove a point. Yes there's mention of the "breakdown" of the Black family or in clearer terms, lack of traditional nuclear families. I wish Morgan addressed that some parents aren't together due to death of a parent, or in some cases because it is for the best interest of the parent and child to be separated from the other parent due to abuse. I think family should not be limited by blood relationship and that children benefit from being surrounded by people that love and care for them-that hopefully is not limited to biological parents. It was frustrating to read her opinion on men having a choice to parent a child, which my response would be men are just as liable for using birth control as women. What's stopping him from using a condom or being choosy who he has unprotected sex with? When a parent chooses to not provide financial and emotional support-to me that is essentially giving up parental rights. It takes communication to make a relationship work and behavior is part of communication, whether that will ever be acknowledged is another story.
Last point-chickenhead envy is a lot to process. My impression-to "win" a woman must straddle two worlds-traditional role of helpmeet to a man while having her own career/goals (somewhere in the mix have the man's approval and get him to bankroll it if possible). This chapter is built up to convince the reader that good girls finish last but there's an about face at the end with it being said wait on Prince Charming to learn that he needs a "good girl" not a chickenhead". Sigh.
Because this is getting way too long, I'll stop here. I think this is an accessible book for anyone who's interested in learning more about feminism and Black women in a non threatening academic text. It is not without flaws and there are definitely several talking points. I'd recommend this to jumpstart a conversation about men/women/relationships--while acknowledging what's missing, what should be fixed, etc.
dnf
April 24, 2023
When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost
I Picked Up This Book Because: #Bookopoly
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Hoopla via HCPL
Dates Read: 4/17/23
Stars: DNF - No rating
Narrator(s): Brittany Cooper, Joy Bryant, Bahni Turpin
The Story:
I’m not sure what I was expecting but it was not an academic paper on feminism, racism and sexism. While well written and making some interesting points I was not in the mood for such, and I think this work deserves more than half my attention while I let it play for the sake of finishing a book.
The Random Thoughts:
I Picked Up This Book Because: #Bookopoly
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Hoopla via HCPL
Dates Read: 4/17/23
Stars: DNF - No rating
Narrator(s): Brittany Cooper, Joy Bryant, Bahni Turpin
The Story:
I’m not sure what I was expecting but it was not an academic paper on feminism, racism and sexism. While well written and making some interesting points I was not in the mood for such, and I think this work deserves more than half my attention while I let it play for the sake of finishing a book.
The Random Thoughts:
August 7, 2011
first off, this one got 4 stars because it got me thinking and talking, NOT because i didn't find some of the content problematic. That part about how dudes should be able to abdicate their parental rights, and thus responsibilities, if they were clear thru a pregnancy that they didn't want to parent a child? Damn, that one still turns my guts. That's some shit. But no matter how vehemently i disagree with some of JM's conclusions, the questions are dead on.
I found more relevant to MY life in this 'hip hop feminism' than the loads of feminist theory treatise i read in college. I appreciated that JM kept the focus on how raising a woman's 'place' to of equal value as a man's to the interpersonal, daily what-can-be-going-down between me-and-him. In otherwords, it never gets so abstract that it loses personal relevance.
And let me tell you, it left me with some things i GOT to talk about. i'm actively recruiting some of my girls to pick this one up and then have some dialogue. Mission accomplished JM and that awards you many stars.
It is, also, a hetero-normative perspective ONLY and dated. I would have liked more of a consensus view, as in this is what me and my girls have concluded needs to happen, rather than such a seemingly JM-thinks-based-soley-on-her-own-experiences conclusion to questions of feminism outside white, middle-class academia. Particularly in intimate relationships as this is the context of much of what JM is thinking thru.
i could go on, but i'm inviting questions, discourse on this one to anyone who's read it and wants to intellectually digest with me.
I found more relevant to MY life in this 'hip hop feminism' than the loads of feminist theory treatise i read in college. I appreciated that JM kept the focus on how raising a woman's 'place' to of equal value as a man's to the interpersonal, daily what-can-be-going-down between me-and-him. In otherwords, it never gets so abstract that it loses personal relevance.
And let me tell you, it left me with some things i GOT to talk about. i'm actively recruiting some of my girls to pick this one up and then have some dialogue. Mission accomplished JM and that awards you many stars.
It is, also, a hetero-normative perspective ONLY and dated. I would have liked more of a consensus view, as in this is what me and my girls have concluded needs to happen, rather than such a seemingly JM-thinks-based-soley-on-her-own-experiences conclusion to questions of feminism outside white, middle-class academia. Particularly in intimate relationships as this is the context of much of what JM is thinking thru.
i could go on, but i'm inviting questions, discourse on this one to anyone who's read it and wants to intellectually digest with me.
October 4, 2017
It took me a minute to get through this. There were times of knowledge, most of the time I felt like I was reading a home girl speech. I have annotated some parts of the books but the further I got into the book I felt a distance from the author. I just couldn’t relate maybe it’s denial of some of the point she brought up but I doubt it. I’m glad I read it and would come back and reference what I annotated but I don’t think I would re-read it. At least no time soon.
June 28, 2016
This book was an absolute disappointment. Too much talk of the "independent woman" v. the "gold diggers" which felt like slut shaming misogyny rather than an uplifting contribution to feminism. It's really a shame because there is not enough feminist scholarship on hip hop so I was looking forward to that perspective.
September 8, 2022
This book was complete trash. I want my money back and I wanna go back and unread it.
May 16, 2019
Absolutely illuminating and thought provoking in all ways
January 7, 2015
I have had this book on my TBR list for a very longtime. I remember first coming across an article mention this book when doing a research paper for an African-American studies course. I have long since forgotten what the paper was about but I remember this book title. Maybe because it is such a catching title and used a term that I remember from growing up. That being said I had high hopes for this book. While I think the author deliver I did have some issues with it. There were many topics brought up in this book but I am only going to go into a few.
My first expectation was that this would a more academic type book. It wasn't, but it was not remedial in anyway. While I was reading I just kept picking up on how the author would switch back and forth between slang and academic language. At first I was annoyed. Then I realized that something about the authors writing was familiar. What was so familiar. Morgan wrote like I (and most of my friends) talk. It was interesting and sort of comforting. To see the play of words that are engraved in my speech patterns on paper. I have a college degree and consider my self educated. But I also grow up in an "urban" area. Have lived in the projects and went to public school, where the population was most people of color. So my speech pattern is influenced both by my college education and my upbringing. I, have fallen into the habit of mixing educated talk with street slang (and all my friends do it). It made the book, seem like I was "talking" to one of my girlfriends and it drew me in.
When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost, is not so much about the chickenhead in all of us. But it is about black women (particularly educated, independent black women) who have grown up with hip-hop defining "feminism" for themselves. I personally would never call myself a feminist because it brings up an image of bra burning, hard line, mostly white women. It's a little to "aggressive for me. But I like what Morgan terms "hip-hop feminist". Here is an excerpt for a chapter that appealed to me.
Am I no longer down for the cause if I admit that while total gender equality is an interesting intellectual concept, it doesn't do a thing for me erotically? That, truth be told, men wit too many "feminist" sensibilities have never made my panties wet, at lest not like the reformed thug nigga who can make even the most chauvinistic of "wassup, baby" feel like a sweet, wet tongue darting in and out of your ear.
I agree with what she said in most of this chapter (titled Hip-Hop Feminist).
Morgan also brought up a topic that always confused me, Male Reproductive Rights, and she thinks like I think. Which is shocking because I don't think that either of us follow the mainstream ideology on this. Basically, what she states is that if a man makes it clear to a woman that he doesn't want to be a father (even if she is already pregnant) than he has the right to give up all responsibility for that child (emotional, financial, etc). Now there are some limits, for example within the first six months of the child's life or something like that. Now this is not a popular idea but if a woman can decided to have a baby on her own terms. Why can a man decided not to participate (within a reasonable amount of time)? If a woman says "I am pregnant" and he says "I don't want kids (now, never, or with you)" and the woman decides that adoption and abortion is not an option? Why should he be penalized for her decision. Yes, yes I know that they had sex and that's how babies are made. But is it really fair for to leave someones future in the hands of one persons?
Now what I did not like is that Morgan sort of put a lot of the blame for the state of black men on black women. She tries not to do that but it is what she does. In particularly she blames mothers for there sons actions. Now, to some degree I agree. But where is the personal responsibility? She gets into the whole "mother's raise their daughters but love their sons" argument. Which is true sometimes. But it negates personal responsibility and puts adult decision on the why a child is raised. If you get to twenty five years old and don't know how to open a door or act like an man than it is not entirely your mother's fault.
All together, it was a fast, entertaining, funny, insightful read. I am sorry that I waited so long.
Pros: Language, View Point, Issues Raised
Cons: Blame Game
Overall Recommendation:
I would highly recommend this book. I think that it gives plenty of insight in what some young black women are experiencing today (even though the book is almost 10 years old).
My first expectation was that this would a more academic type book. It wasn't, but it was not remedial in anyway. While I was reading I just kept picking up on how the author would switch back and forth between slang and academic language. At first I was annoyed. Then I realized that something about the authors writing was familiar. What was so familiar. Morgan wrote like I (and most of my friends) talk. It was interesting and sort of comforting. To see the play of words that are engraved in my speech patterns on paper. I have a college degree and consider my self educated. But I also grow up in an "urban" area. Have lived in the projects and went to public school, where the population was most people of color. So my speech pattern is influenced both by my college education and my upbringing. I, have fallen into the habit of mixing educated talk with street slang (and all my friends do it). It made the book, seem like I was "talking" to one of my girlfriends and it drew me in.
When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost, is not so much about the chickenhead in all of us. But it is about black women (particularly educated, independent black women) who have grown up with hip-hop defining "feminism" for themselves. I personally would never call myself a feminist because it brings up an image of bra burning, hard line, mostly white women. It's a little to "aggressive for me. But I like what Morgan terms "hip-hop feminist". Here is an excerpt for a chapter that appealed to me.
Am I no longer down for the cause if I admit that while total gender equality is an interesting intellectual concept, it doesn't do a thing for me erotically? That, truth be told, men wit too many "feminist" sensibilities have never made my panties wet, at lest not like the reformed thug nigga who can make even the most chauvinistic of "wassup, baby" feel like a sweet, wet tongue darting in and out of your ear.
I agree with what she said in most of this chapter (titled Hip-Hop Feminist).
Morgan also brought up a topic that always confused me, Male Reproductive Rights, and she thinks like I think. Which is shocking because I don't think that either of us follow the mainstream ideology on this. Basically, what she states is that if a man makes it clear to a woman that he doesn't want to be a father (even if she is already pregnant) than he has the right to give up all responsibility for that child (emotional, financial, etc). Now there are some limits, for example within the first six months of the child's life or something like that. Now this is not a popular idea but if a woman can decided to have a baby on her own terms. Why can a man decided not to participate (within a reasonable amount of time)? If a woman says "I am pregnant" and he says "I don't want kids (now, never, or with you)" and the woman decides that adoption and abortion is not an option? Why should he be penalized for her decision. Yes, yes I know that they had sex and that's how babies are made. But is it really fair for to leave someones future in the hands of one persons?
Now what I did not like is that Morgan sort of put a lot of the blame for the state of black men on black women. She tries not to do that but it is what she does. In particularly she blames mothers for there sons actions. Now, to some degree I agree. But where is the personal responsibility? She gets into the whole "mother's raise their daughters but love their sons" argument. Which is true sometimes. But it negates personal responsibility and puts adult decision on the why a child is raised. If you get to twenty five years old and don't know how to open a door or act like an man than it is not entirely your mother's fault.
All together, it was a fast, entertaining, funny, insightful read. I am sorry that I waited so long.
Pros: Language, View Point, Issues Raised
Cons: Blame Game
Overall Recommendation:
I would highly recommend this book. I think that it gives plenty of insight in what some young black women are experiencing today (even though the book is almost 10 years old).
March 15, 2016
I read this book because it came highly recommended by both Melissa Harris Perry and Kaila Adia Story. Morgan starts off the book by describing why and how black women have been isolated from (male dominated) racial justice movements and (white dominated) feminist movements. While multiple black feminist scholars have filled in this gap, Morgan notes that many black women find their theoretical texts inaccessible. Additionally, Audre Lorde, bell hooks, and other black feminists haven't quite captured what black feminism means for the hip-hop generation. I loved Morgan's realness, her incorporation of black English into the text, her call for a feminism that exists in shades of gray: "“We need a feminism that possess the same fundamental understanding held by any true student of hip-hop. Truth can’t be found in the voice of any one rapper but in the juxtaposition of many. The keys that unlock the riches of contemporary black female identity lie not in choosing Latifah over Lil’ Kim, or even Foxy Brown over Salt-N-Pepa. They lie at the magical intersection where those contrary voices meet—the juncture where truth is no longer black and white but subtle, intriguing shades of gray” (62). Following this, I was expecting a book that helped unpack the seeming contradictions of hip-hop feminism, a book that helped me tease out how black women find empowerment in hip hop culture even as misogyny, anti-blackness and colorism permeate the lyrics of rap music. That's not exactly what Morgan did here, although, that may not have been what she set out to do in the first place. What I loved most about the book was the chapter strongblackwoman. It's absolutely worth reading. Here, Morgan lays out the history of the myth and gives compelling reasons for black women to reject the stereotype. It's done beautifully. What I didn't love about the book was the dichotomy between "good" black women and "bitches and hos." When Morgan describes the misogyny in hip hop music, she says that we cannot take rappers to task for being sexist if we don't also demand accountability for the women who are complicit as video girls...I'm not sure that type of comparison can be made. This needed to be discussed in more detail...Additionally, the babymother chapter seemed to, in a sense, shame single motherhood (in ways that were not unlike Moynihan's in his infamous report....). That chapter did, however raise interesting legal and moral questions about male reproductive rights, or non-gestational parent reproductive rights. I'm not sold on Morgan's argument, but the questions were interesting, nonetheless. Lastly, there were many parts of the book in which Morgan stated that it is perhaps necessary to question whether or not gender equality is something women really (should) want. Huh?! At the beginning of the book, Morgan says that she wrote the book because she “didn’t want to have to talk about 'the brother,' 'male domination,' or 'the patriarchy.' [She] wanted a feminism that would allow [her] to explore who we are as women—not victims” (56). I wholeheartedly agree. Yet, men ARE at the center of Morgan's analysis. This isn't a text about feminism or black women as much as it is a text about the intimate relationships between black men and women. What would be interesting to see is what an updated version of the text looks like. This book is very much grounded in the 90s, so I wonder if Morgan would have the same perspective over 20 years later...All in all, my assessment is that this book will leave you with more questions than answers. Morgan, however, never claimed that the book would leave readers with a clear understanding of the truth anyway: “This book by its lonesome won’t give you the truth. Truth is what happens when your cumulative voices fill in the breaks, provide the remixes, and rework the chorus” (26).
August 21, 2018
I ignored this book for a couple decades off title alone. But against my better judgment, I finally decided to read it. The introduction is pretty misleading as it brings the book in with a fire that is fast extinguished by the authors ridiculous rants, wrongs, judgments, and trash respectability politics.
This book is masquerading as progressive black feminism when in reality the author has a very hostile, outdated, and misogynistic viewpoint towards black women. It does not surprise me that the line of thought the author spews was birthed in “hip-hop” (really, rap culture). She has swallowed the b.s. rappers sell and regurgitates it in weapon form towards other women. Joan Morgan was a Pick-Me before there ever was one. She’s so antiquated on a lot of things and leans heavily in stereotypes on others. She also wallows in a selective perception that tries to convince us men are the victims of varying life systems, yet doesn’t bother to explore in any way why some women make the choices they do.
This reads like something Steve Harvey would have written. There were many points reading where I was genuinely confused about whether she was being sarcastic. Unfortunately, she was very serious in her stances. Girl, bye.
I also tried to give her the benefit of the doubt by wondering how evolved from these viewpoints she would be in 2018. But, in the updated version (as recently as Beyoncé’s Lemonade) she flat out stated she stands behind every sentiment and would change nothing about this book in hindsight. All benefit of the doubt wasted. And this book is trash. Period.
This book is masquerading as progressive black feminism when in reality the author has a very hostile, outdated, and misogynistic viewpoint towards black women. It does not surprise me that the line of thought the author spews was birthed in “hip-hop” (really, rap culture). She has swallowed the b.s. rappers sell and regurgitates it in weapon form towards other women. Joan Morgan was a Pick-Me before there ever was one. She’s so antiquated on a lot of things and leans heavily in stereotypes on others. She also wallows in a selective perception that tries to convince us men are the victims of varying life systems, yet doesn’t bother to explore in any way why some women make the choices they do.
This reads like something Steve Harvey would have written. There were many points reading where I was genuinely confused about whether she was being sarcastic. Unfortunately, she was very serious in her stances. Girl, bye.
I also tried to give her the benefit of the doubt by wondering how evolved from these viewpoints she would be in 2018. But, in the updated version (as recently as Beyoncé’s Lemonade) she flat out stated she stands behind every sentiment and would change nothing about this book in hindsight. All benefit of the doubt wasted. And this book is trash. Period.
March 29, 2007
I actually really enjoyed this book. The author is a hip-hop feminist who writes about her struggle as a feminist and her love for hip-hop and her African-Ameriacn community, but how she is torn because the lyrics, media representation of her sister community, etc. I would recommend this book to anyone doing urban youth ministry, and the girls in that youth ministry.(high-school/college-aged. I'm including one of my favorite excerpts of the book:
"I'm going to make God the main man in my life. When me and God's relationship is right, everything else just kinda falls into place. If work feels like it's demanding too much, I kick it with God and he reminds me of my purpose. If life's obstacles seem too much for me to handle, God wraps his arms around me and reminds me of what we've accomplished together in the past...If loneliness is tempting me to lay my heart down in a placce it can't helped but get stepped on, God reminds me that heartache is what tends to set in when a woman calls on a man to do the job that was intended only for Him. Fulfilling a hunger for a love unconditional, one that never abandons or disappoints, one that replaces the imperfect love of a flawed parent or never fails to come through in our time of need is a very heavy task. That kind of loving is best provided by a divine and perfect Spirit. By giving God his proper place, I free my relationships from fear--because i know that somebody out there has got my back. Regardless."
"I'm going to make God the main man in my life. When me and God's relationship is right, everything else just kinda falls into place. If work feels like it's demanding too much, I kick it with God and he reminds me of my purpose. If life's obstacles seem too much for me to handle, God wraps his arms around me and reminds me of what we've accomplished together in the past...If loneliness is tempting me to lay my heart down in a placce it can't helped but get stepped on, God reminds me that heartache is what tends to set in when a woman calls on a man to do the job that was intended only for Him. Fulfilling a hunger for a love unconditional, one that never abandons or disappoints, one that replaces the imperfect love of a flawed parent or never fails to come through in our time of need is a very heavy task. That kind of loving is best provided by a divine and perfect Spirit. By giving God his proper place, I free my relationships from fear--because i know that somebody out there has got my back. Regardless."
February 6, 2016
I don't know how to rate this; The book started off kind of questionable to me. I wasn't sure if I was going to like her writing style. I'm not a big fan of spoken word and her style reminded me of that in the beginning, but I kept on and it got a little better for me. I never really thought about us treating women who choose to be exploited in videos the same way we treat coons or Sambos; it's an interesting concept, but I don't think there are mechanisms in place for the latter mentioned stereotypes to feel shame so I'm unsure how we'd go about doing that. She also got me thinking about the whole child-support debate. Having men abdicate parental rights up to six months after the child's birth is an interesting concept, something else I had never considered. I will say that I didn't like the language. We really still calling women "chickenheads," though? Granted this book was written awhile ago, but dang. We may not agree with these types of women's practices, but do we have to call them out their names? I have mixed feelings on this one, but it got me thinking, and I always take that as a good thing.
May 2, 2020
More like 3.5.
I see the importance of this text as an entranceway into Black Feminist theory. It gives a basic understanding of the writing of our elders as well as connecting Black Feminist theory with everyday actions.
I also see why it is very controversial. It reeks of heteronormativity, anti-sex work, elitism, classism, pro-capitalism, and at times, leaving a ton of patriarchy burden on women. I found the 'baby mother' chapter filled with assumptions and personal opinions about the black family, motherhood, and parenting.
I definitely see how my 20-something self would have loved this book but my 30-something self would interrogate and disagree with it a lot.
I would also read the newer edition with the forward by Dr. Brittany Cooper, Q&A afterword, and a new chapter on Beyonce's Lemonade.
I see the importance of this text as an entranceway into Black Feminist theory. It gives a basic understanding of the writing of our elders as well as connecting Black Feminist theory with everyday actions.
I also see why it is very controversial. It reeks of heteronormativity, anti-sex work, elitism, classism, pro-capitalism, and at times, leaving a ton of patriarchy burden on women. I found the 'baby mother' chapter filled with assumptions and personal opinions about the black family, motherhood, and parenting.
I definitely see how my 20-something self would have loved this book but my 30-something self would interrogate and disagree with it a lot.
I would also read the newer edition with the forward by Dr. Brittany Cooper, Q&A afterword, and a new chapter on Beyonce's Lemonade.
October 19, 2018
The reason for the 2018 read date is because I'm definitely re-reading this for the....well, it's been quite a few times. Joan's the best, her writing always just holds me hostage, and I can't seem to walk away from the book, article, even posts on social media. LOL
All I can ever say about (soon-to-be) Dr. Joan Morgan ❤😘 is that I am beyond thankful we had you to explain, make sense and validate the emotions and internal conflict we felt for wanting to bounce our ass to lyrics that explicitly stated we only existed for that reason. Now, I can mindfully twerk, and I will forever be indebted to you for what you've done for hip-hop and the literacies field. ❤🤗
All I can ever say about (soon-to-be) Dr. Joan Morgan ❤😘 is that I am beyond thankful we had you to explain, make sense and validate the emotions and internal conflict we felt for wanting to bounce our ass to lyrics that explicitly stated we only existed for that reason. Now, I can mindfully twerk, and I will forever be indebted to you for what you've done for hip-hop and the literacies field. ❤🤗
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