Synopses & Reviews
Why does society have difficulty discussing sexualities? Where does fear of Black sexualities emerge and how is it manifested? How can varied experiences of Black females and males who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), or straight help inform dialogue and academic inquiry?
From questioning forces that have constrained sexual choices to examining how Blacks have forged healthy sexual identities in an oppressive environment, Black Sexualities acknowledges the diversity of the Black experience and the shared legacy of racism. Contributors seek resolution to Blacks' understanding of their lives as sexual beings through stories of empowerment, healing, self-awareness, victories, and other historic and contemporary life-course panoramas and provide practical information to foster more culturally relative research, tolerance, and acceptance."Black Sexualities is a brilliant collection that provides groundbreaking analyses of the myriad connections between sexuality and race."
Maxine Baca Zinn, Michigan State University"A path breaking contribution and the definite resource for interdisciplinary scholars in the growing field of Black sexualities. A highly sophisticated intervention that fills the existing void of empirical research in this area, while drawing from and critically engaging with the social and behavioral science literature. This volume will forever challenge us to rethink the categories, methods and approaches scholars use in this rapidly developing field of study."
Arlene Davila, author of Latino Spin: Public Image and the Whitewashing of Race"Filled with provocative arguments and illuminating insights, Black Sexualities marks a new and exciting epoch in the study of human sexuality and its interactions with race and class; a must-read for scholars and students of ethnic studies and human sexuality."
Rafael Diaz Cesar E. Chavez Institute, San Francisco State University
Review
"Filled with provocative arguments and illuminating insights, Black Sexualities marks a new and exciting epoch in the study of human sexuality and its interactions with race and class; a must-read for scholars and students of ethnic studies and human sexuality."
Review
"Black Sexualities is a brilliant collection that provides groundbreaking analyses of the myriad connections between sexuality and race."Maxine Baca Zinn, Michigan State University
Review
"A path breaking contribution and the definite resource for interdisciplinary scholars in the growing field of Black sexualities. A highly sophisticated intervention that fills the existing void of empirical research in this area, while drawing from and critically engaging with the social and behavioral science literature. This volume will forever challenge us to rethink the categories, methods and approaches scholars use in this rapidly developing field of study."
Review
"Two groundbreaking, indispensable guides for serious scholars of sexualities who wish to understand both the heterogeneous sexualities of African Americans and Latinos as well as how greater attention to race, ethnicity, class and culture provides important new directions for the field."
Review
"Excellent for courses in black, Latino/a, women's, and LGBT studies, and sociology. Highly recommended." Arlene D�vila - author of Latino Spin: Public Image and the Whitewashing of Race
Synopsis
Why does society have difficulty discussing sexualities? Where does fear of Black sexualities emerge and how is it manifested? How can varied experiences of Black females and males who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), or straight help inform dialogue and academic inquiry?
From questioning forces that have constrained sexual choices to examining how Blacks have forged healthy sexual identities in an oppressive environment, Black Sexualities acknowledges the diversity of the Black experience and the shared legacy of racism. Contributors seek resolution to Blacks' understanding of their lives as sexual beings through stories of empowerment, healing, self-awareness, victories, and other historic and contemporary life-course panoramas and provide practical information to foster more culturally relative research, tolerance, and acceptance.
About the Author
Juan Battle is a professor of sociology and public health at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and the coeditor of
Free at Last?: Black America in the Twenty-first Century.Sandra L. Barnes is a joint appointed professor in the department of human and organizational development sociology and the divinity school at Vanderbilt University. She is the author of The Cost of Being Poor: A Comparative Study of Life in Poor Urban Neighborhoods in Gary, Indiana.
Table of Contents
Identity Theories and New Frameworks
Nontraditional, Nonconforming, and Transgressive Gender Expression and Relationship Modalities in Black Communities
Creation Out of Bounds
On the Fear of Small Numbers
Blackness, Sexuality, and Transnational Desire
Part II
Pathologizing Black Sexuality
Dangerous Profiling
Revisiting Black Sexualities in Families
To Be Fluent in Each Other's Narratives
Part III
Prison, Crime, and Sexual Health in the United States
Black and Latino Same-Sex Couple Households and the Racial Dynamics of Antigay Activism
Racialized Justice Spreads HIV/AIDS among Blacks
Black Sexual Citizenship
Part IV
Blacks and Racial Appraisals
When Secrets Hurt
Black Female Sex Workers
Yes, Jesus Loves Me-A Case Study
Part V
Black Mother-Daughter Narratives about Sexuality
Black Youth Sexuality
"I'll Be Forever Mackin'"
Black Senior Women and Sexuality
Epilogue