about how society conspire to restrain black women from realizing their potential as citizens in America. The racially skewed beauty standards is one. The relentless stereotyping of black women is another. Both tried to keep down the spirits of a group of women Americans trained to despise. I hope Ms. Collins comes out with another book about us.

Patricia Hill Collins exemplifies a practitioner's and theorist's point of view on black feminism as it relates to Africa American and our African sisters. She references critical and inspiring data and quotes from a varied repetoire of authors, historians, and philosophers. The author explains the context and format of her subject upon initial reading. This book also draws commonalities among the issues and concerns among African American women and our international sisterhood (i.e., African, Carribean, etc.,) It illustrates the social and cultural values among all groups, the commonalities among the values while focusing on the African American feminist aspect. This is a must read for any person, be it woman or not, African American or other. It brings about a social and cultural understanding that is pertinent to the "holonomy" of understanding and appreciating varied cultural, social and historical values and experiences while commencing to the building of community. Please add this title to your collection of literature. You won't be disappointed; if for nothing more than to open your world to receive another perspective.

Collins'analysis of black feminism is an enlightening piece of literature that forces its readers to chanllenge main stream assumptions and discover the underlying mechanisms of racism and sexism in America. To create this effect, she uses a range of feminist perspectives form the calm subtleties of Angela Davis to the slightly boisterous philosopy of Bell Hooks. Nevertheless, by displaying these perspectives equally Collins shows that the struggle for equally is not an individual struggle but one that requires collectively. This book is intensely thought provoking and it is guaranteed to give its readers profound insight into black feminism.

Patricia Hill Collins builds off of her equally enlightening and well-written Black Feminist Thought to create fighting words. She proposes a "critical social theory" to combine both theory and action for black feminism, stressing that thought is useless without these actions. She analyzes the need for such a theory as well as the reasons for black feminism's unique ability to serve as that theory. Using sociology, postmodernism, and Afrocentrism as her examples, Collins examines the history of black women within the areas and how her critical social theory could impact them. The overall point of such critical social theory is to achieve empowerment for black women, and Collins ties everything together into her vision of how that is possible. An excellent book, though anyone who wants a complete picture should also read her Black Feminist Thought.

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