Jezebel's sexual lasciviousness, Mammy's devotion, and Sapphire's outspoken anger -- these are among the most persistent stereotypes that black women encounter in contemporary American life. Hurtful and dishonest, such representations force African American women to navigate a virtual crooked room that shames them and shapes their experiences as citizens. Many respond by assuming a mantle of strength that may convince others, and even themselves,...

"This is an innovative work that provides a powerful and accurate definition of the social construct of the African-American female in America. This construct developed from mythical images and ascribed to her have never been critiqued or challenged until interpreted through the lens of Womanism. This work meets head on with the challenges that occur because of the many negative issues that stem from her environment which affect her mental and emotional...