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Reviews tagging 'Abortion'
A Kick in the Belly: Women, Slavery and Resistance by Stella Dadzie
2 reviews
ecobookworm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Wow, what a book! This is a valuable record of the particular horrors that women suffered during slavery in the Caribbean, and the role they played in perseverance and resistance. It's a difficult read in terms of content, for obvious reasons - the horrors of slavery and the specific toll taken on women is graphically detailed. Information will be familiar to anyone with a background in Caribbean history, but the focus on women's stories, voices and experiences makes it worth your while.
I especially appreciated the exploration of African background, heritage, knowledge and traditions, and how they were brought over to the Caribbean. The book is laid out in a very logical and comprehensive way, covering everything from the development of slavery and role of women leaders in resistance, to the Middle Passage, to life on the plantations, punishments, reproductive issues and rebellions. I was interested in this topic as I was already somewhat familiar with it, having done a final project on women's suffering during slavery for History class in high school. There's a depth of information here that's truly revealing, and as much as it's horrifying, it's also inspiring to see the ways that women were able to resist. Much of history hasn't captured that, I'm so glad this book exists! The focus on the Caribbean makes it particularly valuable to those interested in feminist and Caribbean history.
It's also written in an accessible and non-academic way that's quite approachable, I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the topic. I listened to the audiobook on scribd, which was very well done and not too long, about 6 hours. Do keep in mind though that there are some illustrations in the print version that you'll miss on the audio.
I especially appreciated the exploration of African background, heritage, knowledge and traditions, and how they were brought over to the Caribbean. The book is laid out in a very logical and comprehensive way, covering everything from the development of slavery and role of women leaders in resistance, to the Middle Passage, to life on the plantations, punishments, reproductive issues and rebellions. I was interested in this topic as I was already somewhat familiar with it, having done a final project on women's suffering during slavery for History class in high school. There's a depth of information here that's truly revealing, and as much as it's horrifying, it's also inspiring to see the ways that women were able to resist. Much of history hasn't captured that, I'm so glad this book exists! The focus on the Caribbean makes it particularly valuable to those interested in feminist and Caribbean history.
It's also written in an accessible and non-academic way that's quite approachable, I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the topic. I listened to the audiobook on scribd, which was very well done and not too long, about 6 hours. Do keep in mind though that there are some illustrations in the print version that you'll miss on the audio.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Abortion and Rape
2treads's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
5.0
-As my two estates are at the two extremities of the island, I am entitled to say from my own knowledge...that book-keepers and overseers kick black women in the belly from one end of Jamaica to the other- Matthew Monk Lewis
🌍🌍🌍
Dadzie uses clear, precise writing to document the stealing, transportation, subjugation, enslavement, and rebellion of Africans, notably our women, from The Continent to the New World.
🌍🌎🌏
As she presents the forgotten spaces and importance of women and the crucial contributions they made within this time, her acerbic wit and commitment to ensuring that whatever illumination could be brought so that these women, named and unnamed, would have their place in the narrative of resistance.
🌏🌎🌍
Dadzie holds nothing back as she exposes the realities and debunks the racialised perceptions that have been a part of the colonizers handbook for far too long. She uses this research to elucidate the roles that our ancestors have been placed in and how that influences to this day the way white society reacts to and perpetuates held presumptions on our bodies and consciousness.
🌎🌎🌎
-Slavery and the Slave Trade, with its crude levelling of sexual distinctions, meant that African women shared every inch of the man's spiritual and physical odyssey- Lucille Mathurin Mair
🌎🌍🌏
There is no doubt that Black women are absolutely the definition of strength. The horrors they endured, witnessed, made a part of, and yet still, they stood firmly in their right to be free, to orchestrate action, and undermine the colonialist institution.
🌎🌏🌎
#BlackHistory #WomensHistory #StrongBlackWomen #amplifyBlackstories #amplifyBlackwriters #amplifyBlackvoices #readwidely #readwhatyouwant #readingisselfcare #BlackWomen #readhistory
🌍🌍🌍
Dadzie uses clear, precise writing to document the stealing, transportation, subjugation, enslavement, and rebellion of Africans, notably our women, from The Continent to the New World.
🌍🌎🌏
As she presents the forgotten spaces and importance of women and the crucial contributions they made within this time, her acerbic wit and commitment to ensuring that whatever illumination could be brought so that these women, named and unnamed, would have their place in the narrative of resistance.
🌏🌎🌍
Dadzie holds nothing back as she exposes the realities and debunks the racialised perceptions that have been a part of the colonizers handbook for far too long. She uses this research to elucidate the roles that our ancestors have been placed in and how that influences to this day the way white society reacts to and perpetuates held presumptions on our bodies and consciousness.
🌎🌎🌎
-Slavery and the Slave Trade, with its crude levelling of sexual distinctions, meant that African women shared every inch of the man's spiritual and physical odyssey- Lucille Mathurin Mair
🌎🌍🌏
There is no doubt that Black women are absolutely the definition of strength. The horrors they endured, witnessed, made a part of, and yet still, they stood firmly in their right to be free, to orchestrate action, and undermine the colonialist institution.
🌎🌏🌎
#BlackHistory #WomensHistory #StrongBlackWomen #amplifyBlackstories #amplifyBlackwriters #amplifyBlackvoices #readwidely #readwhatyouwant #readingisselfcare #BlackWomen #readhistory
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery, Violence, Suicide, Racism, Miscarriage, Infertility, and Abortion
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