Black Lesbians
Black Lesbians: An Annotated Bibliography," compiled by JR Roberts and published in 1981, is a noteworthy landmark in the history of women's studies, African-American studies, and lesbian and gay studies. Roberts' 341 primary bibliographic entries, each one accompanied by an informative annotation, made available a vast body of work about the lives of Black lesbians. Roberts' book includes a foreword by Barbara Smith, a Black lesbian writer who continues to be a forceful presence as a writer and activist (see, for example, Smith's 1999 essay collection "The Truth That Never Hurts," published by Rutgers University Press). In her foreword Smith declares, "This book should be available in every library in this country, particularly those in Black communities." Roberts' entries cover six primary areas of study: "Lives and Lifestyles"; "Oppression, Resistance, and Liberation"; "Literature and Criticism"; "Music and Musicians"; "Periodicals"; and "Research, Reference, and Popular Studies." A marvelous gallery of photographs and an appendix of materials related to a "lesbian witch hunt" on a U.S. Navy ship further add to the book's value. A wealth of books, magazine articles, recordings, and other materials are covered. Particularly fascinating is the section on literature and criticism, which undoubtedly introduced such Black women writers as Becky Birtha, SDiane Bogus, Anita Cornwell, and Pat Parker to many readers for the first time. These writers are just part of a remarkable gathering of Black lesbian lives. The priestess of a witches' coven, a joyfully recovering drug addict, the co-parent of a child conceived through artificial insemination--these and many, many more have their stories made more accessible thanks to Roberts' careful scholarship. In the foreword Barbara Smith declares, "The book you are holding in your hand is a kind of miracle." In a society that is often stifled by the triplet horrors of racism, sexism, and homophobia, "Black Lesbians" is indeed a miracle. I know of no other edition besides the original 1981 edition published by the Naiad Press. But if you are a scholar of any of the three fields mentioned at the beginning of this review, you will want a copy of this historic work for your library. -- review by Michael J. Mazza