Blues Legacies and Black Feminism

Explore the rich, empowering legacy of the black women blues tradition through the eyes of one of America's most brilliant intellectuals. This groundbreaking analysis from Angela Y. Davis examines the careers of three crucial blues singers - Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday - through a feminist lens, providing a historical, social, and political context that illuminates their powerful artistry. Davis reveals how these women laid the groundwork for an aesthetic that celebrated social, moral, and sexual values outside of mainstream American culture, using meticulous song transcriptions to show how the roots of blues extend far beyond its musical origins. This stunning and indispensable contribution to American history is as boldly insightful as the women Davis praises.