Not Just Race, Not Just Gender: Black Feminist Readings

Prof Smith is one of the few contemporary academics who understands that writing can be simultaneously theoretically informed and accessible. This book proves this point. In many ways, the title of the book belies the level of involment in which this book engages: Smith works through the vicissitudes of race, gender, class, and sexual orientation in interesting, and frequently novel, ways. While her discussion of "passing" as a genre and trope of literary investigation/performance, in particular, is important and enlightening, her level of insight into the most "mundane" contemporary topic, such as the Supreme Court or murder trials, provoked my interest even more. It is easy to recommend this book to those interested in topic covered in the title (i.e., "race" and "gender") but wholly another to recommend it to those interested in compelling, involved discussions of the ways class and sexual orientation act as markers of subjectivity. Smith's attention to detail, her desire to see culture anew, and her compelling arguments (sans jargon) make this book a "must have."

Valerie Smith takes the reader through recent news stories and artistic works, both those written and those portrayed in film, to explore the need for an interdisciplinary and multi-perspective approach to society's analysis of various phenomena. Specifically, she discusses "Intersectionality," a theory proposed by many Black Feminists, to critique portrayals and actual occurrences of events such as interracial rape and Blacks "passing" for white. This approach is unique because it recognizes the importance of understanding an event from the perspectives of race, gender, class, sexual orientation, simultaneously. Smith's discussion of contemporary events (e.g., the Central Park Rape Case, the OJ trial, and the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings) combined with the critiques of various books and films, shows the reader how film often portrays life, but more importantly, how real life events are often misinterpreted by what is portrayed in popular culture. Despite being a complicated book, Smith provides a convincing argument for the need for this multi-perspective approach. I personally found the chapter on "passing" to be particularly fascinating. I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy an academic, interdisciplinary approach to contemporary issues.