Women, Race & Class

Angela Davis provides a powerful history of the social and political influence of whiteness and elitism in feminism, from abolitionist days to the present, and demonstrates how the racist and classist biases of its leaders inevitably hampered any collective ambitions. While Black women were aided by some activists like Sarah and Angelina Grimke and the suffrage cause found unwavering support in Frederick Douglass, many women played on the fears of white supremacists for political gain rather than take an intersectional approach to liberation. Here, Davis not only contextualizes the legacy and pitfalls of civil and women’s rights activists, but also discusses Communist women, the murder of Emmitt Till, and Margaret Sanger’s racism. Davis shows readers how the inequalities between Black and white women influence the contemporary issues of rape, reproductive freedom, housework and child care in this bold and indispensable work.

Reader Fit: An excellent choice for readers interested in understanding how race, gender, and class have shaped social movements and continue to influence inequality today.

Why We Carry It: We carry Women, Race & Class because it examines the interconnected histories of race, gender, and economic inequality through voices and experiences that are often overlooked. It encourages readers to understand how different forms of injustice intersect and why those connections matter.