Scan barcode
hecman111's review against another edition
5.0
Bridge is so deep that it took me almost a year to complete. I left each piece deep in thought and reflection about how we’ve changed, but more so (and sadly) how much we haven’t changed. The authors of this compilation speak to us today in a hauntingly familiar language highlighting just how perceptive and ahead of the time they were decades ago. The late Gloria Anzaldúa (¡presente!) is the star in my mind, a literary genius that left us far too soon. The work is worth it.
nicobee's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
a_briggs's review against another edition
4.0
As I made my way through this book, I found myself captivated by it. From the very start, the lengthy introduction challenged me, and I couldn't help but resonate with the sentiment expressed in Kate Rushin's poem, "The Bridge Poem."
The collection encompasses various poems, each evoking a different emotion and shedding light on unique perspectives. As I journeyed through the pages, I found myself drawn to pieces that explored the complexities of colorism and the experiences of light-skinned women. These poems challenged my preconceptions and prompted me to reflect on my own positionality as a light-skinned Black woman.
Beyond the poems, the essays offered valuable insights into the intersections of race, class, and feminism. They exposed the privileges that white middle-class women often possess, shielding them from the oppressions faced by Black women. It was eye-opening to see the disparities and divisions within society, as well as the challenges faced by Black women in navigating their identities.
As I delved deeper into the book, I found myself contemplating the act of writing itself. The authors' reflections on writing as a means of survival and self-discovery resonated deeply with me. It reminded me of the power of writing to create and transform, to challenge complacency and foster personal growth.
Overall, "The Bridge Called My Back" is a collection that invites readers to reflect, question, and explore the intricacies of their own identities. It serves as a road map for those seeking to navigate the complexities of womanhood, race, and intersectionality. While it may take time to fully absorb its contents, the journey is worthwhile.
The collection encompasses various poems, each evoking a different emotion and shedding light on unique perspectives. As I journeyed through the pages, I found myself drawn to pieces that explored the complexities of colorism and the experiences of light-skinned women. These poems challenged my preconceptions and prompted me to reflect on my own positionality as a light-skinned Black woman.
Beyond the poems, the essays offered valuable insights into the intersections of race, class, and feminism. They exposed the privileges that white middle-class women often possess, shielding them from the oppressions faced by Black women. It was eye-opening to see the disparities and divisions within society, as well as the challenges faced by Black women in navigating their identities.
As I delved deeper into the book, I found myself contemplating the act of writing itself. The authors' reflections on writing as a means of survival and self-discovery resonated deeply with me. It reminded me of the power of writing to create and transform, to challenge complacency and foster personal growth.
Overall, "The Bridge Called My Back" is a collection that invites readers to reflect, question, and explore the intricacies of their own identities. It serves as a road map for those seeking to navigate the complexities of womanhood, race, and intersectionality. While it may take time to fully absorb its contents, the journey is worthwhile.
bexrecca's review against another edition
5.0
This has been sitting on my TBR since undergrad. I am glad I finally read it.
lunabbly's review against another edition
4.0
I thought it was an interesting collection of essays and writings from women of color in the 1970s and 1980s. It was powerful and important to have women of color voices and lesbians of color voices proudly declare their heritage, talk about being white-passing, and also their sexuality because it was too taboo. Had they not done this work, I'm not sure where the feminist movement would be now.
Still, I wish the book contained more trans voices, gender-fluid, nonbinary, more pansexual, demisexual, asexual voices. It felt like because they were coming out -- lesbian women of color -- together as a collective so strongly, that they needed to be united on that front, and that left little room for other identities to be heard through this collection of essays, which is disappointing. But that's what I also loved -- a strong sense of community and vying for community.
And unfortunately, the book didn't include Southeast and South Asian voices, nor Western Asian voices. I would have loved to have read from a Palestinian woman / femme writer for example, or to hear from dark-skinned Latina/es. I felt that a majority of the narratives from Asian and Latine folks in this collection of writings were light-skinned folks. Which I understand, light-skinned privilege needs to be talked about, but I want to hear from dark-skinned folks more and to have their voices uplifted, supported, and to create the conditions in which they are allowed to not only survive, but thrive.
I recommend as it was transformational and a lot of the writers I had never heard of, but am now reading their works. I also think it's a lovely book for an introductory course.
Still, I wish the book contained more trans voices, gender-fluid, nonbinary, more pansexual, demisexual, asexual voices. It felt like because they were coming out -- lesbian women of color -- together as a collective so strongly, that they needed to be united on that front, and that left little room for other identities to be heard through this collection of essays, which is disappointing. But that's what I also loved -- a strong sense of community and vying for community.
And unfortunately, the book didn't include Southeast and South Asian voices, nor Western Asian voices. I would have loved to have read from a Palestinian woman / femme writer for example, or to hear from dark-skinned Latina/es. I felt that a majority of the narratives from Asian and Latine folks in this collection of writings were light-skinned folks. Which I understand, light-skinned privilege needs to be talked about, but I want to hear from dark-skinned folks more and to have their voices uplifted, supported, and to create the conditions in which they are allowed to not only survive, but thrive.
I recommend as it was transformational and a lot of the writers I had never heard of, but am now reading their works. I also think it's a lovely book for an introductory course.
thestarlesscasea's review against another edition
4.0
What a remarkable collection! I find it inspiring how much grassroots passion, vulnerable sharing of lived experience, expertise of various kinds, and powerful calling for a better world went into this book. At the same time, I find it devastating to consider how relatively little progress has been made in almost thirty years and how much backsliding has happened in that same time. Definitely worth a read in my opinion.
frog_bird's review against another edition
4.0
1.5 years later. I was in high school when i started this book. So formative. It's so cool that the language we use in revolutionary/activist/leftist spaces today is literally this book. Even after this books era, the movements of the 90s and 2000s didn't think of these concepts in the same way. I loved the poems. It got kinda doomer-y by the end, which felt weird and not super aligned with the rest of the book.
breenmachine's review against another edition
I'm not giving this book a rating because it's too hard to give an overall rating to so many different writers, but I am glad I got to read them. Eye-opening to see and feel what the women writing see and feel. My favorite essay was La Guera by. Cherrie L. Moraga.