Non-Fiction Friday: Ain't I a Woman?

Author: bell hooks Title: Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism Publisher: South End Press Date Published: 01/01/1981

Read Dates: 01/05/2026- 01/10/2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was my non-fiction pick for January.

Ain't I a Woman is a nonfiction book on feminism as it relates to the experiences of black women in America. It was published in 1981, so while it is not the most current work on the subject, it is still a powerful and informative read. It is separated into five essays: Sexism and the Black Female Slave Experience, Continued Devaluation of Black Womanhood, The Imperialism of Patriarchy, Racism and Feminism, and Black Women and Feminism. This was a very informative and eye-opening read. While I was aware in general terms that the feminist movements in the United States excluded Black women and other women of color, I was not fully informed on the subject, and I liked gaining more historical context for why intersectional feminism is so important today. This book was first published in 1981, but bell hooks continued writing and publishing for more than 30 years after Ain't I a Woman was released, and I am very interested to read some of her continued reflections on feminism in America with the passage of time. This was an excellent starting point for learning about the subject.

A classic work of feminist scholarship, Ain't I a Woman has become a must-read for all those interested in the nature of black womanhood. Examining the impact of sexism on black woman during slavery, the devaluation of black womanhood, black male sexism, racism within the feminist movement, and the black woman's involvement with feminism, hooks attempts to move us beyond racist and sexist assumptions. The result is nothing short of groundbreaking, giving this book a critical place on every feminist scholar's bookshelf.