When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost
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7. Throughout the book, the author emphasizes that lack of respect is a problem that plagues the black community. Do black women love, yet not respect, black men? What do you think of Morgan’s idea that women shouldn’t spend time with other women who don’t respect men and that “participating in . . . men-bashing sessions means . . . commiserating with sistas who are just as clueless as [you are] about how to have a healthy relationship”?
8. Since black women have provided everything for their families for so long, is there any room to believe that men can be relied on and won’t drop the ball? What can mothers do to affect their sons’ abilities to respect women? Author Marita Golden says, “The generations-old backlog of anger that African-American men and women hoard and revisit and unleash upon one another . . . becomes a script that our sons and daughters memorize. . . . Only when our sons and daughters know that forgiveness is real, existent, and that those who love them practice it, can they form bonds as men and women that really can save and change our community.” How can we practice forgiving one another? Can you forgive someone today?
9. Morgan implies that one of the reasons there are so many black women heading single-parent families is because they feel they have little chance of being a part of a traditional two-parent family. Do you agree? Is having a child something you have to do because you have no choice? Do you agree that people should be having discussions with their partners about whether or not they want to have children before they sleep together? If they can’t even discuss it, should they even be having sex? What are some ways two people can open a dialogue about this?
10. What are “male reproductive rights”? Why is it so easy to condemn men for not offering full support when they find out that a woman they’ve been with is pregnant? Can you imagine what it would be like to be pregnant by a man whose child you don’t want but he does, and to not have any say about it?
11. Morgan was told that black women don’t have time for feminism (or don’t “have time for all that shit,” to be exact). Where does this ambivalence toward feminism come from? Is it an outgrowth of “black women’s historic tendency to blindly defend any black man who seems to be under attack from white folks”? Do you agree that “acknowledging the rampant sexism in [the black] community . . . means relinquishing the comforting illusion that black men and women are a unified front”?
12. In the chapter “STRONGBLACKWOMEN,” the author shares a Yoruba fable that helped her figure out what she needed to make her happy. Have you had to learn how to put your needs first, as Morgan did? Can you share some ways that you have done this?
More from the Author
She Begat This
About the Author
A pioneering hip-hop journalist and award-winning feminist author, JOAN MORGAN coined the term “hip-hop feminism” in 1999 with the publication of When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost, which is now used at colleges across the country. Morgan has taught at Duke University, Stanford University, and the New School.
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source notes
intro.: dress up
1. Joan Morgan, “Baby’s Mama,” Essence, August 1997, p. 85.
hip-hop feminist
1. Kristal Brent-Zooks, “A Manifesto of Sorts for a New Black Feminist Movement,” The New York Times Magazine, November 12, 1995, p. 86.
2. Ibid, pp. 88–89.
from fly-girls to bitches and hos
1. Michelle Wallace, “When Black Feminism Faces the Music, and the Music Is Rap,” The New York Times, July 29, 1990.
2. Joan Morgan, “Real Love,” Vibe, April 1996, p. 38.
3. Kevin Powell, “The Vibe Q: Tupac Shakur, Ready to Live,” Vibe, April 11, 1995, p 52.
strongblackwomen
1. Michele Wallace, Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (New York: Dial Press, 1978), p. 153.
2. Paula Giddings, Where and When I Enter: The Impact of Race and Sex on America (New York: William Morrow, 1984), p. 43.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid., p. 31.
5. Wallace, Black Macho, p. 107.
6. Ibid., p. 107.
7. Ibid.
8. Diane Marie Weathers, “Death of a Superwoman,” Essence, March 1998, p. 84.
9. The Sentencing Project, “Young Black Americans & the Criminal Justice System: Five Years Later,” October 1995.
10. Farai Chideya, Don’t Believe the Hype: Fighting Cultural Misinformation About African-Americans (New York: Plume, 1995), pp. 16 and 117.
strongblackwomen -n- endangeredblackmen . . . this is not a love story
1. Chideya, op. cit., p. 21.
2. Ibid.
3. Marita Golden, Saving Our Sons: Raising Black Children in a Turbulent World (New York: Doubleday, 1995), pp. 11–12.
4. Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, “Turning Boys into Men,”Essence, November 1988, p. 112.
5. Golden, Saving Our Sons, pp. 187–188.
babymother
1. Michele Ingrassia, “Endangered Family,” Newsweek, August 30, 1993, pp. 17–18.
2. Joan Morgan, “Baby’s Mama,” Essence, August 1997, p. 85.
3. Ingrassia, “Endangered Family,” p. 21.
4. Ibid., p. 18.
5. Mary Frances Berry, The Politics of Parenthood (New York: Random House, 1995), p. 218.
6. Ellis Cose, A Man’s World: How Real Is Male Privilege—and How High Is Its Price? (New York: HarperCollins, 1995), p. 163.
7. Ibid., p. 182.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid, p. 180.
chickenhead envy
1. Farai Chideya, Don’t Believe the Hype, pp. 17 and 117.
index
A note about the index: The pages referenced in this index refer to the page numbers in the print edition. Clicking on a page number will take you to the ebook location that corresponds to the beginning of that page in the print edition. For a comprehensive list of locations of any word or phrase, use your reading system’s search function.
abandonment, 122, 126–28
abortion, 36, 59, 164, 168, 171, 172, 179, 180–81
abstinence, 167, 181
adoption, 171, 172, 173, 179–80, 181
AIDS, 53, 61, 102, 104, 167, 182
alcoholism, 73, 124–25, 147
Ambersunshower, 110–11
Badu, Erykah, 143–44
Berry, Mary Frances, 175–76
birth control, 59, 168, 180, 182
bitches, 70, 74–75, 76, 77, 78
black female identity, 25–26
careers in, 160
complacency concerning, 21–23
feminism and, 20
independence and, 20–21, 186–187, 193, 194
self-esteem and, 77–78, 81
see also chickenheads; STRONGBLACKWOMAN (SBW) image
black feminism
attitudes toward black men and, 49–62
black-on-black love and, 70–71, 139–40
current generation of, 52–53
examples of, 22, 34–35, 36–38
questions of, 57–58
stereotypes of, 55–57
truth and, 61–62
see also feminism
black men
all-black male schools, 123
careers of, 186–87, 206, 225
chickenheads and, see chickenheads
confusion about fatherhood, 168–170
disrespect for wo
men, 121–23, 139
as fallen heroes, 54, 80, 101–2, 118
feminist attitude toward, 49–62
financial competence of, 186–87, 198, 206, 207–16, 225
healing relationships between black women and, 139–40
heroes, 106, 225
Million Man March, 50–54, 166
potential of, 150–51, 213–14
relationships with daughters, 122–129
reproductive choice and, 60–61, 170, 171–82
self-esteem and, 149
self-love and, 74–75
sexism of, 22, 36–46, 59, 65, 66–81, 215, 224–28
sexual stereotypes concerning, 98–99
see also ENDANGEREDBLACKMEN
Braxton, Toni, 189
breeding, 98
Brent-Zooks, Kristal, 50–51, 54
Brown, Sterling, 132
Bruce, Philip A., 97–98
Burmeister, Sonny, 175–76
cancer, 53, 104
capitalism, 209
careers, 160, 186–87, 206, 225
Central Park Jogger case, 31–33, 38–46
Charles-Monroe, Daphne, 133–36
chickenheads, 185–228
envy of, 185–92, 195–97
erotic power of, 216–27
motherhood and, 189–92
nature of, 185–94
STRONGBLACKWOMEN versus, 186
“trickin” and, 198–202, 216–227
ultimate truth about, 224–28
child support, 168–69, 171, 175–77, 217
Christian, Marc, 38–46, 55 classism, 78
claustrophobia, 91, 92
Cleage, Pearl, 22
Clinkscales, Keith T., 210–11, 212, 227
clothing, 17–18, 199
college education, 35–37, 53, 120, 134, 137–38, 197, 203
community, 76–77, 79, 81
complacency, 21–23
condoms, 180, 182
Cose, Ellis, 177
dating
Dutch treat and, 204, 207–9, 214
feminine approach to, 202, 216
interracial, 148–49
rules of, 202–9, 216
Davis, Angela, 22, 37
death, 17–22, 71–72, 73, 80, 102–4
depression, 55, 73, 106–7, 122
Dew City, 25
diabetes, 103, 104
divorce, 122, 124, 167, 177
domestic violence, 53, 104, 120, 128–29
Dr. Dre, 68–69, 72
drug abuse, 22, 34, 53, 55, 61, 71–72, 73, 80, 104, 120, 122, 128
Du Bois, W. E. B., 210
Eazy-E, 102
education, 20, 22, 34, 59, 61, 186
all-black male schools, 123
college, 35–37, 53, 120, 134, 137–38, 197, 203
employment, 104, 120, 160, 186–187, 206, 225
empowerment, 23, 61
ENDANGEREDBLACKMEN (EBM), 87, 115–40
crusades to save, 123
fatherless daughters and, 122–29, 164–65
manifestations of, 130–39
pain and, 124–26
problems of, 119–20
respect and, 121–23, 139, 151–52
sexism of mothers of, 132–39
STRONGBLACKWOMEN and, 144–45, 146–47
universality of, 144
Evers, Myrlie, 105
Farrakhan, Louis, 50
fashion, 17–18, 199
fatherhood, 157–82
absentee fathers, 122–29, 164–65
child-support laws, 168–69, 171, 175–77, 217
joint custody and, 175–76, 178
male reproductive choice and, 60–61, 170, 171–82
men’s confusion about, 168–70
paternity laws, 175–76
single fathers, 169
femininity, 95–98, 216, 220
feminism, 20, 31–46
activism and, 35–36
gains of, 59
militant, 220–21
Million Man March and, 50–54
racism of White, 53
reproductive choice and, 171, 173, 174
role models for, 22, 33–35, 135–36
types of, 35
see also black feminism
financial success, 198, 206, 207–16, 222–23, 225
fly-girls, 68–70
F.O.L.A. (Families Organized for Liberty and Action), 168
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf (Shange), 17–22, 25
forgiveness, 139–40
Foxy Brown, 62, 199, 217
gender roles, 215–16
Giddings, Paula, 37, 93, 96, 97–98
God, 152–53
Golden, Marita, 131–32, 140
Green, Dianna, 102–4
hair, 110
Harper, Frances, 36
Harvard University, 97
health issues, 22, 34–35, 104
heart attack, 104
Henry, Tom, 177–78
high blood pressure, 104
hip-hop generation, 21–22, 25
fallen heroes of, 80, 101–2
feminism of, 52–53
misogyny in, 65, 66–70, 72–81
pain in, 74–77, 80
sexism of, 58, 65, 66–70, 72–81
Holiday, Billie, 105–6
hooks, bell, 22, 37, 53, 93
hos, 70, 74–75, 76, 77
Hughes, Langston, 23
Hurston, Zora Neale, 107
Ice Cube, 72
independence, 20–21, 186–87, 193, 194, 204–6, 208, 209, 211–13
intelligence, 227
interracial dating, 148–49
Jackson, Janet, 205
Jackson, Jesse, 106
Jacobs, Paul, 211, 212–15
Jeru the Damaja, 77
joint custody, 175–76, 178
Jordan, Michael, 106, 225
kidney failure, 104
King, Coretta Scott, 37, 105
Kunjufu, Jawanza, 136
Ladner, Joyce, 131–32
learned helplessness, 136–37
lesbianism, 35, 42–43
life expectancy, 104
Lighty, Chris, 225–26
Lil’ Kim, 62, 199, 217, 218
Lorde, Audre, 22, 37
lynching, 71, 98, 131–32
machismo, 72, 73, 75
Malcolm X, 106
Mammies, 95
McCulley, Melanie G., 179–80
MC Lyte, 199
McMillan, Terry, 116
Million Man March, 50–54, 166
misogyny, in hip-hop and rap music, 58, 65, 66–70, 72–81
Mr. Louisiana Hot Link, 25
monogamy, 167–68
motherhood, 157–82
absenteeism of fathers and, 122–129, 164–65
black family as endangered species and, 165–66
chickenhead envy and, 189–92
child support and, 168–69, 171, 175–77, 217
joint custody and, 175–76, 178
maternal instinct and, 157–60
myth of good mother and, 160–61
peer pressure for, 161–70
single, 53, 71, 122–23, 161–66
see also STRONGBLACKWOMAN (SBW) image
Naughty by Nature, 166, 167–68
Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie), 72, 73, 102, 166
Olufemi, 123–26
O’Neal, Shaquille, 225
oppression, 59, 78–79
pain
of chickenhead envy, 185–92
ENDANGEREDBLACKMEN and, 124–26
in hip-hop and rap music, 74–77, 80
of STRONGBLACKWOMAN image, 89–92, 103, 106–7, 119–20
Parker, Mack, 131–32
paternity laws, 175–76
patriarchy, 56, 175
Pickaninnies, 95
potential, 150–51, 213–14
poverty, 22, 55, 71, 104, 162, 165–66
Powell, Colin, 106
power, 34, 75, 214, 215–1
6
division of, 222–28
erotic, 77–78, 216–27
sexism and, 198, 221, 224–28
sexual abuse versus, 131
sexual distribution of, 174–75
power couples, 186
prison, 22, 53, 80, 104, 120, 122
Protestant work ethic, 209
Public Enemy, 168
Puff Daddy, 225, 226
Queen Latifah, 62, 199, 217–18
racism, 22, 24, 36–37, 71, 140, 149
ENDANGEREDBLACKMEN image and, 139, 144
financial success and, 209–10
impact of sexism and, 59–60, 75
of White Feminist Movement, 53
rape, 31–33, 38–46, 98
rap music, see hip-hop generation
Ready to Die (album), 73, 166
reproductive choice
abortion and, 36, 59, 164, 168, 171, 172, 179, 180–81
adoption and, 171, 172, 173, 179–180, 181
birth control, 59, 168, 180, 182
for men, 60–61, 170, 171–82
respect, 186
ENDANGEREDBLACKMEN image and, 121–23, 139, 151–152
independence and, 204–6, 208
Rock, Chris, 202–3
safe sex, 167, 180, 182
Salt-N-Pepa, 62, 199
Sambos, 95
Scarface, 68–69
segregation, 71
self-definition, 20, 21
self-esteem, 136, 223–24
black men and, 149
careers and, 160
sexuality and, 77–78, 81
STRONGBLACKWOMAN image and, 90, 109–11
self-love, 74–75
sexism, 24, 55
black male, 22, 36–46, 59, 65, 66–81, 215, 224–28
Central Park Jogger case, 31–33, 38–46
ENDANGEREDBLACKMEN image and, 144
erotic power and, 220–23
financial independence and, 211
of hip-hop and rap music, 58, 65, 66–70, 72–81
impact of racism and, 59–60, 75
of mothers of ENDANGEREDBLACKMEN, 132–39
physical and emotional damage of, 61