Synopses & Reviews
Based on the African American Women's Voices Project,
Shifting reveals that a large number of African American women feel pressure to com-promise their true selves as they navigate America's racial and gender bigotry. Black women "shift" by altering the expectations they have for themselves or their outer appearance. They modify their speech. They shift "White" as they head to work in the morning and "Black" as they come back home each night. They shift inward, internalizing the searing pain of the negative stereotypes that they encounter daily. And sometimes they shift by fighting back.
With deeply moving interviews, poignantly revealed on each page, Shifting is a much-needed, clear, and comprehensive portrait of the reality of African American women's lives today.
Review
“Searing...as I read Shifting... I wanted to rip out chapters and send them to nearly everyone I know.” Gwen Ifill
Review
“Meaningful and poignant...this well researched and beautifully written book is a must read.” William Pollack, Ph.D., author of Real BoysWilliam Pollack, Ph.D., author of Real BoysWilliam Pollack, Ph.D., author of Real BoysWilliam Pollack, Ph.D., author of Real BoysWilliam Pollack, Ph.D., author of Real BoysWilliam Pollack, Ph.D., author
Review
“Jones and Shorter-Gooden are wise, warm and candid, breaking new ground.... An important and powerful book for us all. Mary Pipher
Review
“Always moving, at times haunting, and often inspirational, Shifting provides a richly textured look at the lives of Black women.” Bebe Moore Campbell, author of What You Owe Me
Review
“Stress is a common theme...the authors found good news...Were learning that we dont have to lose ourselves.” Essence
Review
“Poignant…based on research garnered from the African American Womens Voices Project, the largest study to date of black women.” Booklist
Review
“A deeply moving, intimate and important book about the emotional costs for Black women in white America.” Harriet Lerner, author of The Dance of Anger
Review
“Urgent...compelling and educational…a real contribution.” Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Based on the African American Women's Voices project, a study with four hundred women across the United States that represents a diverse range of black women, Shifting reveals the subtle pressure black women feel to "shift" their real selves as a coping mechanism to accommodate and placate the many groups that comprise American society. From one interaction to the next, black women change their behavior both internally and externally--shifting "white," then shifting "black" again, shifting "corporate," shifting "cool"--a survival skill that often diminishes the joys of living an authentic life.
Breaking important new ground by examining the inner lives of black women and illuminating the challenges they face in developing strong, confident selves, Shifting examines how black women, in ways that differ from other groups, contend with money, the workplace, language, black men, beauty, religion and spirituality. Shifting is a clear and comprehensive portrait of the reality of African-American women's lives today.
--Mary Pipher
Synopsis
"Always moving, at times haunting, and often inspirational, Shifting provides a richly textured look at the lives of Black women. Jones and Shorter-Gooden poignantly portray the day-to-day challenges and triumphs of 'sisters' at work, in relationships, and in their spiritual lives." -- Bebe Moore Campbell, author of What You Owe Me
Based on the African American Women's Voices Project, Shifting reveals that a large number of African American women feel pressure to compromise their true selves as they navigate America's racial and gender bigotry. Black women shift by altering the expectations they have for themselves or their outer appearance. They modify their speech. They shift white as they head to work in the morning and Black as they come back home each night. They shift inward, internalizing the searing pain of the negative stereotypes that they encounter daily. And sometimes they shift by fighting back.
With deeply moving interviews, poignantly revealed on each page, Shifting is a much-needed, clear, and comprehensive portrait of the reality of African American women's lives today.
About the Author
Charisse Jones is a national correspondent for
USA Today. A former staff writer for the
New York Times and the
Los Angeles Times, she has been a commentator for National Public Radio and is a contributing writer for
Essence magazine.
Kumea Shorter-Gooden, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in private practice and a professor at the California School of Professional Psychology of Alliant International University, Los Angeles.