Abstract
When most readers hear the word, “radical,” it causes some upset and unrest. However, for a generation of women who have been oppressed, it is a welcome relief as the term, radical, gives hope that the status quo will be changed. This book highlights courageous women who were not afraid to challenge American views of oppression toward women and more specifically toward women of color. The women used art in various forms to express their collective unrest.
This book is a beautiful compilation of the second wave of feminist persuasion. The featured contributors embrace the intersection of gender bias, social injustice, and racial hatred. The narratives are strong and highlight the challenges, triumphs, and the human spirit of African American women in their quest to be heard, seen, and appreciated not for who they were but more specifically for their prolific contributions to the world of art.
The magnificent Brooklyn Museum is the backdrop for their stories expressed through various mediums. The book wonderfully highlights the many contributions of African American women as their artistic designs influenced our culture and shaped our society. Some of the exhibits are wooden sculptures, paintings, photography, and other artistic expressions. As an ethnographer, I appreciate the relevant timeless stories of these historic women as told through art.
African American women have been oppressed for generations; however, they managed to rise by any means necessary. These women did not follow societal or political expectations of the time. They inherently knew they had to use tools, creativity, and ingenuity to force the hand of the oppressor toward acceptance and equality not only for black Women and their families but for the greater good of the larger society.
Elizabeth Catlett, a featured artist in the exhibit, using the interplay of both positive and negative space exquisitely designed sculptural surfaces. She also mentored others, such as Samella Lewis. Lewis’s magazine, entitled Black Art, showcased her own work as well as highlighted many other black artists in the early 60s and 70s. The tireless efforts made by these artists to change the lives of others are most notable and indeed worthy of recognition. These women forged ahead in their communities not only as mothers, wives, and teachers but also as activists for change.
The book is a must read for anyone who believes in change. Art as an expression of change was new to me. Every piece shares a story, a personal narrative. The women depicted in this book are heroic in nature. They endured hard times brought on by societal influences of hate and gender bias but—through resilience—they were able to eliminate walls in artistic circles to share their voices, their stories, and their work.