Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

Women, Race, & Class by Angela Y. Davis

22 reviews

amradio's review against another edition

dark informative slow-paced

4.5

I read Mama's Baby Papa's Maybe before this and I feel like this and that read go well together

The warnings of discussion of rape are no joke and definitely were kinda triggering despite knowing a lot of this history

Chapter 12 also seems as an important note during these times

The last chapter did feel off to me for the ending of the book 

A good read was recommended by another black person so glad I listened to them, knowing a lot of history but reading some new quotes and info got me riled up (mostly because of racism obviously)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Slavery

Moderate: Abortion, Sexism, Misogyny, and Racial slurs

dalmavatai's review

challenging informative medium-paced

I don't even have anything to add, I actually think Angela Davis said it all. A must-read feminist classic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Classism, Colonisation, Slavery, Sexual violence, Violence, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Rape, and Sexism

basicbookstagrammer's review

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Rape, Slavery, Classism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Murder, Abortion, and Racial slurs

brnineworms's review against another edition

challenging dark informative medium-paced

4.5

Women, Race & Class features frank discussion of, as the title suggests, sexism, racism, and classism. It can get pretty brutal at times, focusing for the most part on the conditions of slavery (particularly for enslaved women) and on the fight(s) for equality immediately after the abolition of slavery in the United States.

Davis examines the unique oppression experienced by Black women on account of both their gender and their race, and the ensuing need for intersectional politics. She highlights the solidarity between abolitionists and early feminists, but she also examines instances where solidarity was lacking to say the least – feminists buying in to horrifically racist accusations that Black men are almost all sexual predators, for example. I previously wasn’t aware that the Republican Party had weaponised women’s suffrage against Black enfranchisement, appropriating what should have been a push for social justice as a Trojan horse for racist propaganda and policies. It doesn’t surprise me, of course, but historical details like that are worth learning and learning from.

This book is over forty years old now, yet it remains infuriatingly relevant. It’s powerful and incisive – I would recommend reading it if you haven’t already. I can see why Angela Davis is such a celebrated writer, and I’m eager to read her other famous book, Are Prisons Obsolete?, when I get the chance. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Genocide, Gun violence, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, and Misogyny

Moderate: Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Police brutality, Blood, Child death, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Trafficking

Minor: Colonisation, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Cancer, Medical content, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, War, Miscarriage, and Alcohol

flowingleaves's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

Women, Race, and Class is, in my opinion, a very important book that everyone who is passionate about the topic should read, and then reread. Davis' writing is fascinating and the book is extremely insightful. An absolutely gripping, informative book that I highly recommend to just about everyone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Racial slurs, Sexism, Slavery, Racism, Misogyny, Classism, and Rape

Moderate: Hate crime, Infertility, Sexual assault, Abortion, Death, Violence, Child death, and Murder

bookgirllife's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Women, Race & Class is not only an incredibly powerful piece of feminist literature, it is an absolutely essential read in order to truly understand the necessity and importance of intersectional feminism. Oppression does not confine itself to labels. Davis does a great job of dissecting the connection between Black liberation, women’s rights, and social status, in a manner that is educational and informative while remaining accessible.

The writing was simple but effective and very well researched, adding more substance to arguments I have always known to be true. I listened to an audiobook version alongside my ebook copy, which made it easier to focus on what was being said (but this is no reflection on the easiness of following Davis’ points, rather more to do with my own attention span). I found the structure with which she framed this book to be impactful. I was already deeply moved and invested by the first chapter, which is not always the case for me with non-fiction.

Women, Race & Class follows the history of emancipation of Black people, from slavery all the way through the Civil Rights movement and beyond, highlighting the ties of Black liberation to the women’s rights and socialism. Davis calls to attention how intrinsically all of these societal struggles are linked, and articulates the point so well. She identifies the brutality of slavery, how the fight for Black liberation, in some ways, bore the equal rights movement, and the ways in which white women have let Black people down in centring white supremacy in their demands of equality. Furthermore, Davis discusses the socioeconomic situation of Black people following the emancipation and the history of Black people, particularly Black women, in the labour rights movement. There is no way you will leave this book without something important to think about.

For me, I had never given much meaningful consideration to issues such as involuntary sterilisation and the disproportionate impact it had on people of colour, as well as the Wages for Housework movement and what it would mean for homemakers before. I will certainly be doing some further reading on those topics at some stage. I think it is important to consume literature that challenges the way you think or what you have given thought to. It is through such experiences that we grow as human beings and gain a better understanding of the world we live and how it ended up the way it did.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Rape

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexism, and Misogyny

Minor: Child death and Abortion

aelunny's review

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

I knew I was in for a good book and I'm so grateful for the timing of when I read this. It's incredibly well written and is a page turner (I may have lost the physical book under my bed for 3 months but it really only took me two days of reading). This book is an important resource for understanding intersectionality and questioning the capitalist, and self driven lens we have been subjected to look through within this society.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Classism, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Hate crime, Racism, Colonisation, Infertility, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Suicide, Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Xenophobia

bestamericangirl1's review

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

impressive book. angela davis never disappoints and i learnt a lot more about the emancipation of black people and misogynoir than i could’ve ever possibly learnt at school!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Misogyny, Abortion, and Xenophobia

peachani's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexism, and Slavery

Moderate: Abortion and Rape

Minor: Classism

maiahhtratchh's review

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Racism, and Abortion