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Confusion by Any Other Name: Essays Exploring the Negative Impact of "the Blackman's Guide to Understanding the Blackwoman"
100 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1990
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September 14, 2024
AN IMPRESSIVE RESPONSE TO SHAHRAZAD ALI'S BOOK
This 1990 collection of essays (edited by Haki R. Madhubuti, author of 'Black Men, Obsolete, Single, Dangerous?,' 'The Afrikan American Family in Transition,' and other books), was written in response to Shahrazad Ali's controversial book, 'The Blackman's Guide to Understanding the Blackwoman.' Madhubuti states, "I decided to respond to the book in writing... However, I also realized that if I responded individually, my remarks would be viewed as one author's sour grapes against a successful book. I decided that I would edit and publish a small collection of essays."
He says, "Ali's publication contributes to the negatives against which African American women have struggled for 300 years." (Pg. 1) He adds, "We are struck by what appears to be Ali's preoccupation with the theme of Black woman as animals---not human social animals---but savage lower animals." (Pg. 4)
He observes, "In some people's minds, 'The Blackman's Guide' is the needed response, or reaction, to what some consider to be 'negative images' of Black men in Black women's literature... But Sister Ali's book ... is not an artistic vision (i.e., fiction) written by one woman. Rather, it is, according to Sister Ali, FACT written by one woman who knows what Black men (all of them) should do to get Black women (all of them) 'under control.'" (Pg. 15-16)
He argues, "College-educated African-American women in particular ... have the 'education' which is supposed to be a ticket to ride first class; and on the other hand, even as when they do travel first class, they find the ride a lonely and depressing journey to a generally inhospitable and desolate destination." (Pg. 21)
He concludes, "'The Blackman's Guide' is a pseudo-Islamic-Black-Muslim-Nationalist position stating where Ali believes Black women should be. If this book was written by a Black man, white man or woman, he or she would not be able to show his or her face in the Black community without serious confrontation." (Pg. 33)
This is a controversial book ABOUT a controversial book; but it’s very helpful for getting “both sides” of the debate.
This 1990 collection of essays (edited by Haki R. Madhubuti, author of 'Black Men, Obsolete, Single, Dangerous?,' 'The Afrikan American Family in Transition,' and other books), was written in response to Shahrazad Ali's controversial book, 'The Blackman's Guide to Understanding the Blackwoman.' Madhubuti states, "I decided to respond to the book in writing... However, I also realized that if I responded individually, my remarks would be viewed as one author's sour grapes against a successful book. I decided that I would edit and publish a small collection of essays."
He says, "Ali's publication contributes to the negatives against which African American women have struggled for 300 years." (Pg. 1) He adds, "We are struck by what appears to be Ali's preoccupation with the theme of Black woman as animals---not human social animals---but savage lower animals." (Pg. 4)
He observes, "In some people's minds, 'The Blackman's Guide' is the needed response, or reaction, to what some consider to be 'negative images' of Black men in Black women's literature... But Sister Ali's book ... is not an artistic vision (i.e., fiction) written by one woman. Rather, it is, according to Sister Ali, FACT written by one woman who knows what Black men (all of them) should do to get Black women (all of them) 'under control.'" (Pg. 15-16)
He argues, "College-educated African-American women in particular ... have the 'education' which is supposed to be a ticket to ride first class; and on the other hand, even as when they do travel first class, they find the ride a lonely and depressing journey to a generally inhospitable and desolate destination." (Pg. 21)
He concludes, "'The Blackman's Guide' is a pseudo-Islamic-Black-Muslim-Nationalist position stating where Ali believes Black women should be. If this book was written by a Black man, white man or woman, he or she would not be able to show his or her face in the Black community without serious confrontation." (Pg. 33)
This is a controversial book ABOUT a controversial book; but it’s very helpful for getting “both sides” of the debate.
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