How do the mass media contribute to the social and economic advantages of the privileged and the subjection of African American women? Does America really care about providing equal opportunities for African American women? Passionately written and supported with detailed evidence this book shows the deeply rooted abiding cancer of oppresion in American society. It reveals the formal and informal ways in which African American women have been exluded from equal participation before and after the time of slavery. It will shock many who complacently believe that America is already a land on equality and it will give new heart to the many others who experience racism and sexism as daily facts of life.

K. Sue Jewell is Assistant Professor of Sociology in the Department of Black Studies at The Ohio State University.

Chapter 1 The Status of African American Women; Chapter 2 The Social Significance of Cultural Imagery; Chapter 3 Cultural Images as Symbols of African American Womanhood; Chapter 4 Imagery of African American Womanhood; Chapter 5 Cultural Imagery of African American Women and Empiricism; Chapter 6 Gender-Oriented Social Policy; Chapter 7 The US Legal System; Chapter 8 Determining Entitlements; Chapter 9 A Microcultural Response; Chapter 10 Redefining Images of African American Womanhood and Reshaping Social Policy;