This groundbreaking collection reflects an uncompromised definition of feminism by women of color. 65,000 copies in print.
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May 21, 2008
simon
rated it: 
don't try to read queer theory or anything on your gender studies syllabus without reading this book first. because that shit all came from this shit, no matter what all the white queer theorists try to tell you.
but seriously. theoretically, the trajectory is there. these women came up with what we all now understand as the reality that multiplicity is how each of us navigate the world (ok some other folks did it too, for sure) and those multiplicities occur simultaneously, both i More...
but seriously. theoretically, the trajectory is there. these women came up with what we all now understand as the reality that multiplicity is how each of us navigate the world (ok some other folks did it too, for sure) and those multiplicities occur simultaneously, both i More...
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Jan 03, 2010
Mindy
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More than any other I've ever read, this book changed my life.
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Aug 01, 2007
Lauren
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Even the revised and updated 2002 version is hard to find, but I would encourage everyone to seek out a copy of this book because the strength, fire and passion of the writing is not to be missed. Everything these women write is still pertinent today - about the intersectionality of oppressions, the racism in the white feminist movement, the crucial need for solidarity across race, class, and gender lines . . . . I think this book should be required reading in all women's studies classes.
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Jan 25, 2008
Katie
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This is a book I will always be reading, when I'm not lending it out. Way fucking radical, this collection of essays from amazing strong women folk explores race, sexuality, language, love, hate and discrimination. The editors, Gloria Anzaldua and Cherrie Moraga, are two of my favorite writers. They put my experience, fears and hopes into words. Ladies of color this ones for you, even if like me you only have some color. This book changed my life. I would also recommend this to white people, but
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Jan 31, 2009
This book made a big impression on me when I was assigned it, during my Women's Studies period. The central idea - that people in the majority culture are responsible for their own education regarding people in other cultures - has stayed with me. The inherent anger, or something like anger, maybe simply self-assertion? - of it has also remained. I kind of assign that same stance to people I come across, without it necessarily being valid. I also haven't read it all, probably just one or two sel
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Jun 01, 2010
AdultNonFiction
rated it: 
Teton County Library Call No: Must be ILLed
Marisa's rating: 4 stars
This is a unique book covering some feminist topics not covered in the standard reader. While it is a bit old, it contains several essays by feminists of color discussing their experience, racism, poverty, the prevalence of racism in the feminist movement in the early 1980s and most importantly the individual experiences of asian pacific, black, american indian and latina/chicana women. I found this extremely in More...
Marisa's rating: 4 stars
This is a unique book covering some feminist topics not covered in the standard reader. While it is a bit old, it contains several essays by feminists of color discussing their experience, racism, poverty, the prevalence of racism in the feminist movement in the early 1980s and most importantly the individual experiences of asian pacific, black, american indian and latina/chicana women. I found this extremely in More...
Apr 14, 2009
Millicent
rated it: 
A great intro to intersectionality: how race, gender, sexuality, immigration status, language, and class interact with each other in the lives of women of color in the US. An anthology of personal experience in poems, theory, essays, letters, and interviews.
This book must have been groundbreaking when it came out in 1981. The authors repeatedly write about how they could find nothing in contemporary literature on race and gender that spoke to the complexities of oppression and resi More...
This book must have been groundbreaking when it came out in 1981. The authors repeatedly write about how they could find nothing in contemporary literature on race and gender that spoke to the complexities of oppression and resi More...
May 24, 2007
Diana
rated it:
Identity politics examined. Womyn of Color from the 1960s and 70s share their perspective on life and the struggle of the movement. Absolutely on of my guides to finding myself and place in the US. It's a book that leads to discoveries and confirmations of self.
Must read for any womyn of color.
Must read for any womyn of color.
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Feb 09, 2010
My favorite piece is the conversation between twin sisters Beverly and Barbara Smith -- all the layers of complexity, understanding, awareness, and even hints of conflict and contradiction! And that’s the amazing thing about the book -- that the whole thing functions as an extended conversation between radical women of color, and reading it we got to sense, experience, question, gasping in awareness and expression, the way the essays sometimes read like poetry and the poetry like essays and the
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Jun 11, 2007
Real Supergirl
rated it:
This book is the single most important book in the feminist canon. Read it now.
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(1 person liked it)
Jun 01, 2010
Marisa
rated it:
Teton County Library Call No: Must be ILLed
This is a unique book covering some feminist topics not covered in the standard reader. While it is a bit old, it contains several essays by feminists of color discussing their experience, racism, poverty, the prevalence of racism in the feminist movement in the early 1980s and most importantly the individual experiences of asian pacific, black, american indian and latina/chicana women. I found this extremely interesting as well as startling More...
This is a unique book covering some feminist topics not covered in the standard reader. While it is a bit old, it contains several essays by feminists of color discussing their experience, racism, poverty, the prevalence of racism in the feminist movement in the early 1980s and most importantly the individual experiences of asian pacific, black, american indian and latina/chicana women. I found this extremely interesting as well as startling More...
Aug 20, 2008
K
rated it:
This Bridge Called My Back is, unquestionably, one of the most influential books of my life. It would be an impossible task to attempt to quantify what I experienced/got/learned from this book. That being said:
This Bridge Called My Back is an anthology of essays, theory,fiction, poetry, and the fusion of all four written by radical women of color. The analysis and honesty with which this book is written creates an endless source of reflection, lesson and/or connection.
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This Bridge Called My Back is an anthology of essays, theory,fiction, poetry, and the fusion of all four written by radical women of color. The analysis and honesty with which this book is written creates an endless source of reflection, lesson and/or connection.
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Oct 03, 2007
Megan
rated it:
A challenging collection of essays, poems, and writings from third world women/women of color in the U.S.
The writers address the racism present in the women's movement at the end of the 1970s and early 1980s, as well as discuss the challenges they face as women of color in the U.S. and as feminists (and/or lesbians) in their communities of color.
Many of the pieces are moving; some are anger-inspiring (sometimes in solidarity with the authors, sometimes against the authors); and More...
The writers address the racism present in the women's movement at the end of the 1970s and early 1980s, as well as discuss the challenges they face as women of color in the U.S. and as feminists (and/or lesbians) in their communities of color.
Many of the pieces are moving; some are anger-inspiring (sometimes in solidarity with the authors, sometimes against the authors); and More...
Aug 09, 2009
Mel
rated it:
If you've done *any* thinking/learning about Feminism in the US, you will have come across women of color who have attested to the exclusionary (white-privileged, -centered) nature of the movement through the ages. If you are in any way confused as to why this is, read this book.
"This Bridge..." incorporates incisive analysis, wandering prose, poetry, correspondence, and theatre written by Black, Latina/Chicana, Asian, & Native women in the US -- many of whom are queer. T More...
"This Bridge..." incorporates incisive analysis, wandering prose, poetry, correspondence, and theatre written by Black, Latina/Chicana, Asian, & Native women in the US -- many of whom are queer. T More...
Aug 26, 2008
Jude
rated it:
thanks to mindy for calling this book back for me. time to re-read.
Many years ago this was the primary textbook i went to when the message that i (and other well intentioned white women) got from the women of color in our community was: "Look. Racism is your construct. You wanna understand it, do the work. We do not owe you an education." I mean of course they DID educate and explain and challenge and sigh and laugh and get fed up, etc etc. But i learned the real nature of More...
Many years ago this was the primary textbook i went to when the message that i (and other well intentioned white women) got from the women of color in our community was: "Look. Racism is your construct. You wanna understand it, do the work. We do not owe you an education." I mean of course they DID educate and explain and challenge and sigh and laugh and get fed up, etc etc. But i learned the real nature of More...
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Jan 29, 2009
Tech
rated it:
I am thrilled I picked up this book, because the voices represented in it - Asian-American, Chicana, Native-American, lesbian, and so on - are absolutely incendiary. Hallelujah to my finally discovering a collection of thoughtful writings by minority women (though the onus is on me now to find literature from Southeast Asian females, who I have to imagine have a limited body of work).
Overall, a good primer for me on some problems in feminism, as well as a rousing anthology of underr More...
Overall, a good primer for me on some problems in feminism, as well as a rousing anthology of underr More...
Feb 07, 2010
Natalie
rated it:
I was introduced to this book in one of my women's studies classes in college (thank you Dr. Lemons, who also has a book called Black Male Outsider, check it out!) This book was one of the first books to house writings from women of color regarding feminism. Well worth the read and a must have for anyone interested in identity politics, queer theory or just a good read!
Nov 19, 2007
Bart
rated it:
This Bridge Called My Back is an (sort of) essential anthology to understand where feminism is today; because of its importance, I rated the book much higher than I actually felt about the it. I'm not a fan of most poetry, and the pieces in the book did not change my inclinations. Also, the book is mostly reactionary to the racism in the second wave. The contributors are great in calling out middle class white women's poor (or non-existent) racial analysis, but many fail to recognize that not al
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Jan 08, 2009
Tracy
rated it:
I remember vividly when this book was recommended to me by several older women I knew when I was a young activist in high school. When I read it, it really changed my world. There aren't a lot of books that do that. A classic that should be read by everyone who cares about the world.
Feb 17, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
'we have learned to live with these contradictions. this is the root of our radicalism.'
i have meant to find this book for so long, and finally got it from the public library. hidden in the stacks, no creases, i wish i could send this to so many people. find it.
i need these reminders, when my days aren't oriented around reading theory and stories...
i keep meaning to write a zine or essay about my radicalness around my mixed background and my experience as a woman of colo More...
i have meant to find this book for so long, and finally got it from the public library. hidden in the stacks, no creases, i wish i could send this to so many people. find it.
i need these reminders, when my days aren't oriented around reading theory and stories...
i keep meaning to write a zine or essay about my radicalness around my mixed background and my experience as a woman of colo More...
Nov 23, 2011
Deja
rated it:
Two amazing things that have always stuck with me from this:
The masters tools can never dismantle the masters house (from Audre Lorde) and
and The Bridge Poem (go read it) on the importance that we educate ourselves rather than also require others to be the bridge
The masters tools can never dismantle the masters house (from Audre Lorde) and
and The Bridge Poem (go read it) on the importance that we educate ourselves rather than also require others to be the bridge
Jul 11, 2010
Nisha
rated it:
one of the best books i have ever read. really beautiful and with contributions by so many amazing women. this was a library book, but i'll have to get my own copy, and i know it will be well worn.
Feb 02, 2012
Monica
rated it:
This book changed my life- it helped me to understand the notions of intersectionality and the complexities of identity. It was an important framework for my dissertation many years ago.
Aug 11, 2011
Erica
rated it:
classic.
seriously, a book to read and re-read. so many things to learn! so many amazing, brilliant voices. I love that the anthology contains a lot of conflict, both in terms of conflicted positionalities (i.e. being forced to "choose" your woman or person of color identity), as well as internal conflicts over responses and solutions to complex problems. The anthology converses with itself, argues with itself, builds upon itself. And at the same time, it leaves me with the feeling More...
seriously, a book to read and re-read. so many things to learn! so many amazing, brilliant voices. I love that the anthology contains a lot of conflict, both in terms of conflicted positionalities (i.e. being forced to "choose" your woman or person of color identity), as well as internal conflicts over responses and solutions to complex problems. The anthology converses with itself, argues with itself, builds upon itself. And at the same time, it leaves me with the feeling More...
Sep 27, 2011
Georg1991
rated it:
I read this in college. Many of the topics and how they were presented were new to me. I want to read it again to see if my views have changed.
Feb 23, 2011
Steven
rated it:
A feminist classic, one of the first collections providing a comprehensive critique of colonial/imperial feminism. Has a great fucking title, too.
