Why We Hate Black Women: And Why We Should Love Them

by Hasani Pettiford

Why We Hate Black Deconstructing the Paradox of Black Female Masculinity is a book that takes a critical look at the historical and contemporary lives of Black women in order to answer one Why are so many black women alone? Why are they abused, abandoned, betrayed, devalued and hated? This quest for truth opens up a cultural Pandora's Box of issues that date back over 400 years. Whether we're discussing corporate women, college women, church women or economically challenged women, their stories are the same. Whether they've reached the heights of an Oprah Winfrey or have struggled to make ends meet, there is one chord that binds them all together – the stigma of what it means to be black and female in America.

190 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2010

Reviews

[African Americans on the Move Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not an anti-black women book. The title speaks volumes of what we do to ourselves and our community. This book defines what is wrong or needs to be adjusted within our own selves. From the exploits of black women in videos, to the self hate from black women to another, to the physical abuse men place on our women, to the obstacles women face in the work field, and to the aspect of successful black women never being married and why.

This is a book that makes us take a deep look at ourselves and values. What did our ancestors work so hard for? Are we making them proud? I do believe this book has a great light on what can be work on in our black society. I did enjoy its read and it allowed me to take a look at myself and others I know. Anything that has you thinking about yourself worth is a great book in my opinion.

Tamika Newhouse
AAMBC Reviewer

[Tanisha Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Black Women Are Feminine.

One thing missing from this book is an extreme lack of accountability from black men that their hatred stems from the hatred of their mothers and hatred perpetuated by their mothers towards other women. He states that out lack of femininity is the problem, but it was black men that introduced more militant styles of black power into the black community during the black panther movement. It was black men that introduced the pimp culture into the black community. It was black men who adopted drug dealing and invited gang violence into the communities that have led to black women being stuck in survival mode for decades due to abandonment, neglect, and abuse. If we are not feminine, it's because black men have not created sage environments where we can BE FEMININE. Instead this book instructs us to be feminine and cooperative while letting black men lead. We BEEN DOING THIS and it gets us abandoned, abused, and killed while black men refuse to deal with their issues of self hatred and hatred from their mothers for being born in a society ruled by other races of men. The only thing that I like about this book is how he encourages black women to BE MORE and GET MORE, but if black men are not willing to step their game up and BE MORE as well, who are we supposed to choose?

[Gala · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a long time ago. I liked it because it was information from a black male point of view.