The Truth That Never Hurts: Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom

by Barbara Smith

 The Truth That Never Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom brings together more than two decades of literary criticism and political thought about gender, race, sexuality, power, and social change. As one of the first writers in the United States to claim black feminism for black women, Barbara Smith has done groundbreaking work in defining black women’s literary traditions and in making connections between race, class, sexuality, and gender.

Smith’s essay “Toward a Black Feminist Criticism,” is often cited as a major catalyst in opening the field of black women’s literature. Pieces about racism in the women’s movement, black and Jewish relations, and homophobia in the Black community have ignited dialogue about topics that few other writers address. The collection also brings together topical political commentaries on the 1968 Chicago convention demonstrations; attacks on the NEA; the Anita Hill–Clarence Thomas Senate hearings; and police brutality against Rodney King and Abner Louima. It also includes a never-before-published personal essay on racial violence and the bonds between black women that make it possible to survive.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Essays, Race, Gender, Social Justice, Queer

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Barbara Smith (born in 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American lesbian feminist and socialist who has played a significant role in building and sustaining Black Feminism in the United States. Since the early 1970s she has been active as a critic, teacher, lecturer, author, scholar, and publisher of Black feminist thought. She has also taught at numerous colleges and universities over the last twenty five years. Smith's essays, reviews, articles, short stories and literary criticism have appeared in a range of publications, including The New York Times Book Review, The Black Scholar, Ms., Gay Community News, The Guardian, The Village Voice, Conditions and The Nation. Barbara has a twin sister, Beverly Smith, who is also a lesbian feminist activist and writer.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Unwisely · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the authors mentioned in Love and Struggle: My Life in SDS, the Weather Underground, and Beyond. I needed another book and it was available, and voila.

Through a collection of writing throughout her career, Barbara Smith manages to paint a picture of how being a Black lesbian feminist changed from the 70's through the 90's. She described herself as a literature professor, which probably explains why her writing is so clear. Some of her experiences left me breathless with empathetic horror. But throughout it, she kept working.

It was both inspiring and dispiriting to see what has changed and what hasn't (and of course, time has continued passing since) but I was glad I read it.

[Diane Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kimberlé Crenshaw said on her podcast “of course we all know Barbara Smith(and if you don’t, you should)” and I had never heard of her so picked this book up. Smith has been writing for longer than I’ve been alive and it is shameful that her name was unfamiliar to me (despite having read interviews in the book of the Combahee River Collective). Anyway, this collection of essays is amazing. The optimism of the 60s, 70s and 80s gave gradual way to decidedly less optimism as the 90s progressed. Nonetheless, there are essays here that are, sadly, as needed and true as when they were written. Smith’s writing is beautiful and accessible. I was particularly struck by the 1977 Toward a Black Feminist Criticism as well as Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Relationships between Black and Jewish Women. Like Audre Lorde’s Sister Outsider, I’ll be revisiting some of these essays again and again.

[Malik Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a holistically good read. The knowledge and wisdom I obtained from this read was exponential. I am currently on my journey of reading more non-fiction, this being one of my first reads, and though I was nervous to begin this journey this book exceeded my expectations and removed any worries I had. I took many quotes and excerpts to heart, far too many to note. Moreover, I feel some sort of need to write and live my life fully as a black nonbinary butch lesbian. This life though often filled with turmoil is one also filled with extreme beauty and happiness, both of which must be considered.

[Corvus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice connection of essays from one of the women fighting intersectional oppressions since long before the word "intersectionality" was coined. Her words from decades ago would be radical and enlightening by today's standards. Her inclusion of disability in all of her discussions was surprising even though I expected the best from her. Disability is still so often left out. Smith's words show that we're still fighting the same battles within marginalized and radical communities and Black lesbian women are still bearing much of the brunt today. Brilliant then and brilliant now.