Includes bibliographical references (pages 201-220) and index.
Contents:
1. Whose Tools? Audre Lorde's narrative mastery in The cancer journals and Zami: a mew spelling of my name -- 2. Naming all these women: Jill Nelson's portrayals in Volunteer slavery and Straight, no chaser -- 3. Born into this body: Black women's use of Buddhism in autobiographical narratives -- 4. Moving on from Control: Janet Jackson's lot improves as she loses the uniform -- 5. Down a dangerous cyber street: Black women's online writing -- 6. At arm's length: the selfie, public personae, and Instagram use in young Black women and adolescents.
Summary:
" Using 1980 as a starting point, Curtis explores how black women's insistence on writing embodiment into their narratives addresses and supplants images deployed against them. She argues that although many stereotypes rely on the notion that black female identity comes only from and through the body, emphasis on corporeality serves these women well. Joining somatic experience with complicated inner lives compels at least understanding and perhaps empathy. Privileging their experiences as the only road to truths about their lives succeeds across formats. Deployed by black women, new media facilitate well-executed, defiant, creative autobiographical gestures that should be considered among the most effective and innovative in their respective milieus"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.