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Iconic: Decoding Images of the Revolutionary Black Woman
Angela Davis, Pam Grier, Alice Walker, Michelle Obama. Revolutionary black women have evoked strong reaction throughout American history. Magazines, political campaigns, music, television, and movies have relied upon deep-seated archetypes and habitually cast strong, countercultural black women as mammies and sexual objects. In Iconic Lakesia Johnson explores how this belittling imagery is imposed by American media, revealing an immense cultural fear of black women's power and potential. But the media does not have the last word. Johnson chronicles how strong black women--truly revolutionary black women--have nonetheless taken control of their own imaging despite consistent negative characterizations. Through their speech, demeanor, fashion, and social relationships, women from Sojourner Truth to Michelle Obama have counteracted these depictions. With ingenuity, fortitude, and focus on the greater good, these revolutionary women transformed the cultural images of themselves and, simultaneously, those of American black women as a whole. Seamlessly weaving together role models of past and present, from women in politics to artists and musicians, Johnson eloquently demonstrates how the revolutionary black woman in many public forums has been--and continues to be--a central figure in challenging long-standing social injustices.
- GenresNonfictionRace
183 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 13, 2022
Some good observations and explorations but overall it was difficult to follow the author's main points. The writing is awkward at spots and evidence is sometimes over-interpreted which loses the trust of the reader. The first chapter claims that the book will focus on the ways in which black women use various strategies in order to subvert or counteract negative stereotypes and images. But the book spends much more on pointing out examples of negative stereotypes themselves than on the strategies employed to push back against these images. However, I enjoyed the chapters on how Michelle Obama did (to an extent, successfully) was able to portray herself in a new way.
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June 17, 2019A great book discussing how some amazing women have dealt with the stereotypes around their race and gender
August 29, 2014
I happened to be reading an essay by Audre Lorde pertaining to racism and how it angers her, prior to this book. So, as you can imagine, the first chapter of Iconic was quite ironic -- conflicting with lorde's response to inequality. However, the article was written in the 80s and, of course, things have changed since then. In today's time, I'm sure Lorde would have loved Michelle for her patience. Iconic is definitely a great read for those interested in African-American, feminist literature. It opens up a historical doorway to black American women in today's society, exemplified by political, famous, literary, and musical women of the 70s-80s.
December 18, 2012
An amazing thought provoking read which forces you to think outside the box. Must read for anyone wanting to open their minds to the political value of African American women. We are more than mothers, lovers and wives...we are REVOLUTIONARIES. Learn how ICONIC African American are in behind the myths, in the news, in film, in literature, in music & in the White House.
August 12, 2013
especially loved the chapters on music and film!!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews