12/10/2018

Feminist activist and writer Jones thoroughly explores how black women are carving out digital niches, building community among like-minded people, and fighting back against racism and misogyny. She looks at some of the most successful hashtags of “Black Twitter,” including her own #YouOKSis, which spread awareness about street harassment. Jones also interviews other influential people and activists, including CaShawn Thompson, founder of the Black Girl Magic movement, which draws attention to black women’s achievements, and Glynda Carr, founder of Higher Heights for America, which supports black women in politics. She astutely analyzes the nuances of black female identity and argues it is embattled and erased on two fronts, as feminism writ large is viewed as a white woman’s space, and racial politics are monopolized by men: “Where all the women are white and all the blacks are men, we are not white enough to be women and too womanly to be black.” Another section uses the lens of slavery and colonization to examine the lack of positive representations of black sexuality. Jones encourages other marginalized people to speak out, using “personal branding, activism, and innovative marketing strategies” such as hashtags and evidence-presenting tweet threads to amplify their messages. Part memoir, part tactical guide to internet activism, Jones’s entertaining book advises black women on how to make their voices heard and everyone else on best practices for being an ally. (Jan.)

There’s a beautiful optimism about the power of social media throughout various chapters . . . Recommended for university-level courses on gender studies and new media studies as well as for general readers interested in the intersection of pop culture, feminist theory, racial justice, and activism.”
—Library Journal, Starred Review

“Smart, savvy, and unapologetically fierce.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Jones’s entertaining book . . . astutely analyzes the nuances of black female identity.”
—Publishers Weekly

“If you want to understand the rising preeminence of black women in our modern day sociopolitical landscape, you would be smart to start with Feminista Jones, a black woman writing and working at the forefront of our movements.”
—Ijeoma Oluo, author of the New York Times bestseller So You Want To Talk About Race

“Reclaiming Our Space is an invaluable contribution to long-overdue conversations about race, gender, and intersectionality in America. Feminista Jones combines empathy and wisdom with intellectual rigor and historical analysis to explain clearly and compellingly the central role that Black feminists play in the fight for democracy and social justice.”
—Soraya Chemaly, director of the Women’s Media Center Speech Project and author of Rage Becomes Her

“Reclaiming Our Space is a refreshing affirmation of Black women, centering our societal roles in a way I have never read before. For those of us whose race and gender exist at a precarious intersection, Reclaiming Our Space is a godsend that will inform not only how we are approached and regarded by others through social media platforms but how we interact with each other and value ourselves.”
—CaShawn Thompson, creator of #BlackGirlMagic

“It’s impossible to overstate the cultural impact of Feminista Jones . . . . A bold and candid voice.”
—Eve L. Ewing, author of Electric Arches and Ghosts in the Schoolyard

“As often as I find myself disillusioned by today’s political climate, Feminista Jones reminds us that Black women have always been and continue to be at the forefront of social change both online and IRL. Reclaiming Our Space is a thorough and accessible history of Black feminism that reflects on our past as a means of encouraging us to move toward a better future.”
—Franchesca Ramsey, host of MTV Decoded and author of Well, That Escalated Quickly: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist

“In a world where many call themselves ‘feminist,’ educator, healer, and community leader Feminista Jones provides tangible steps for those seeking to do a better job of showing up and holding space for Black women. Reclaiming Our Space is required reading for brothers who fashion themselves supporters of our sisters, as well as those who don’t yet know they need to be. It’s also soul food for the rest of y’all desiring to move toward a better future.”
—David Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition

While Melanie Taylor does not fully embrace Jones's tough attitude and playfulness, she certainly narrates with some pizzazz. Jones discusses how central women of color have been to the work of equal rights movements—from suffrage to the Civil Rights movement, Black Lives Matter, and #MeToo. She says that digital technology has been pivotal in amplifying black women’s voices but that this spotlight has come with increased targeting by trolls, white supremacists, and right wing media. Her blend of criticism, insight, frustration, and enthusiasm could be communicated more effectively by Taylor. Despite a limited energy level, she narrates in a clear and consistent manner that convey the book's content, if not its spirit. L.E. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

2018-12-03

A feminist writer/community activist offers insights into what she sees as the defining practices of 21st-century black feminism.

For Philadelphia-based social worker and activist Jones, black feminism is "the key to Black liberation." One tool that the author believes that black feminists have used successfully in their ongoing struggle for social justice is Twitter. She argues that hashtags, which help Twitter users find "specific topics and associated social media posts," have become vital mechanisms to grow communities that extend far beyond the narrow confines of academia. Some, like #FridayNightHorror (which focuses on black women in the horror film genre) and #BlackGirlsAreMagic (which focuses on the accomplishments of black women), are social, educational, and/or inspirational in nature. Others, like #BlackLivesMatter, have become the foundation for worldwide political movements. Jones believes that Twitter has become such a successful tool for black feminists/activists because the "forum [is] rooted in the African call-and-response tradition," wherein participants aid in the development of a message while also influencing its direction. She also suggests that Twitter has become a way that black feminists like herself have been able to build followings that have allowed them to continue much-needed conversations elsewhere. Tweets on sex-positive feminism, for example, led Jones to create a widely read blog and, later, articles for Ebony.com. While the author concedes that what exists online "can be negative and harmful to [black] progress," she also suggests that continued sharing of ideas among black feminists "will strengthen and improve the way the next generation interacts with each other." Sharp and provocative, the narrative is most powerful in its implication that, unless born to privilege, all Americans, regardless of race or gender, now "feel something akin to what Black people...have always experienced." Understanding black (female) struggles is therefore critical for everyone.

Smart, savvy, and unapologetically fierce.