The Angry Black Woman's Guide to Life

by Denene Millner, Mitzi Miller, Angela Burt-Murray

A lively guide to the art of becoming a true Angry Black Woman utilizes historical references, career advice, quizzes, and hilarious Top 10 lists to explain how the Angry Black Woman deals with everything from relationships to family to career. Original. 40,000 first printing.

Genres: Self Help

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2004

About the author

Denene Millner is a six-time New York Times best-selling author, Emmy Award-nominated TV show host and award-winning journalist and book publisher who has written more than 30 books, among them: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, co-written with Steve Harvey; Around the Way Girl, a memoir with actress Taraji P. Henson; the Fresh Princess picture books, with Will Smith; and, The Vow, the novel on which the hit Lifetime movie, “With This Ring,” was based. The writer and editor is also the editorial director and publisher of Denene Millner Books, an award-winning imprint that publishes stories featuring Black children and families, by Black authors and illustrators. The DMB list includes two Caldecott Honor books, a Kirkus Prize for Children’s Literature, two Society for Illustrator honors, a Southern Book Award, an instant New York Times bestseller and three NAACP nominations. Denene also co-hosts the nationally syndicated PBS show, A Seat at the Table, and is the host of “Speakeasy with Denene,” a podcast exploring Black culture. Denene’s upcoming novel, One Blood, a multi-generational epic about motherhood, adoption and race, is slated to be published in eight countries when it debuts in 2023. A MacDowell fellow, Denene lives in Atlanta with her two daughters and their goldendoodle, Franklin.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this at a library book sale for 50 cents. I'm not sure that it's worth the two quarters. It's billed as a tongue and cheek guide to embracing your inner Angry Black Woman. This book was published in 2004, so it's references are dated. However, it's the use of tired stereotypes that squash its intended humor. I cringed through a lot of this. I think I even would have struggled through the book in 2004. It was disappointing.

[Phyllis | Mocha Drop · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Angry Black Woman's (ABW) Guide to Life is a tongue-in-cheek examination of black women's reactions and thoughts caused by societal and situational frustrations. Weighing in at about 160 pages, it covers a variety of topics (some better than others) in a variety of forms. It opens with a multiple-choice quiz to allow readers to determine their ABW type. The three categories of results align with personality types of both fictional and real women; examples are Mo'Nique/Aunt Esther, Diana Ross/Bernadine (Waiting to Exhale), and Claire Huxtable/Condoleezza Rice.
The book continues along this path and highlights a variety of situations ranging from career (managers and coworkers), interpersonal relationships (men and children), and even analogies with angry white women. Filled with quizzes, lists, and scenarios, it fancies itself as an `in-your-face, no holds barred' synopsis of why black women are angry, what drives them crazy and comedic tips for coping with the madness that ensues.

Of course, one should always tread lightly on race relations - dealing with generalities and stereotypes should be handled with care for obvious reasons. It cannot be argued that the authors took some liberties with their poetic license, because I personally did not find humor in every chapter; thus the middle of the road rating. The book offers a break from the normalcy found in today's contemporary fiction and if read with the right attitude a smile, laugh, or a nod in agreement can be gained.

[CKE387 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the introduction quiz to determine which type of ABW (Angry Black Woman) you are. The chapter on ABWs Who Changed the World was enlightening. Liked the summaries for Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Anita Hill and Rosa Parks.
The chapter on "Well-Meaning Racists: Sometimes They Say the Stupidest Things" of course brings up issues about Projects - not every Black person is from the Projects; Hair - don't touch without asking first; Affirmation Action - no, I did not get this job because the company had to fill their quota. The issues are handled with appropriate responses to keep a level head in such situations.

Chapter: "Lights! Camera! Action!: An ABW's Favorite Movies, Songs, Books" covers a variety of media images of ABWs including Actresses and Characters from books like the portrayal of Tina Turner in "What's Love Got To Do With It", the different ABWs in "Color Purple" and Pam Grier as "Foxy Brown". I just wish the song list had "Respect" by Aretha Franklin had been first since the author refers to it many times in other parts of the book.

The funniest chapter was "The Blackout: What You Should Never Say to an ABW" Duck for cover if you've ever thought about uttering one of these phrases to an ABW!

Quick, humorous (yet truthful) read!

[Ebony · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should have known. I don't think Angela Burt Murray's editorial's in Essence are very smart and neither was this book. It was supposed to be funny, but it trafficked in so many stereotypes, I had a hard time finding the redeeming moments. Besides that, it's not a book just a series of silly quizzes and lists. My favorite was a few of the parenting strategies and parts of the "is this your man" quiz. I wouldn't recommend that anyone buy it, but if you found it or checked it out at the library, spend 45 minutes flipping through it. If you don't know any black women of note, there are some important history moments, but frankly I didn't like having my heroines reduced to merely angry black women.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd really give this 2.5 stars, but am rounding up because I like their overall intent. A quick, sometimes amusing, sometimes right on read.