When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: A Hip-Hop Feminist Breaks It Down

I read this book because it came highly recommended by both Melissa Harris Perry and Kaila Adia Story. Author Joan Morgan starts off the book by describing why and how black women have been isolated from (male dominated) racial justice movements and (white dominated) feminist movements. While multiple black feminist scholars have filled in this gap, Morgan notes that many black women find their theoretical texts inaccessible. Additionally, Audre Lorde, bell hooks, and other black feminists haven't quite captured what black feminism means for the hip-hop generation. I loved Morgan's realness, her incorporation of black English into the text, her call for a feminism that exists in shades of gray: "“We need a feminism that possess the same fundamental understanding held by any true student of hip-hop. Truth can’t be found in the voice of any one rapper but in the juxtaposition of many. The keys that unlock the riches of contemporary black female identity lie not in choosing Latifah over Lil’ Kim, or even Foxy Brown over Salt-N-Pepa. They lie at the magical intersection where those contrary voices meet—the juncture where truth is no longer black and white but subtle, intriguing shades of gray” (62).Following this, I was expecting a book that helped unpack the seeming contradictions of hip-hop feminism, a book that helped me tease out how black women find empowerment in hip hop culture even as misogyny, anti-blackness and colorism permeate the lyrics of rap music. That's not exactly what Morgan did here, although, that may not have been what she set out to do in the first place. What I loved most about the book was the chapter strongblackwoman. It's absolutely worth reading. Here, Morgan lays out the history of the myth and gives compelling reasons for black women to reject the stereotype. It's done beautifully. What I didn't love about the book was the dichotomy between "good" black women and "bitches and hos." When Morgan describes the misogyny in hip hop music, she says that we cannot take rappers to task for being sexist if we don't also demand accountability for the women who are complicit as video girls...I'm not sure that type of comparison can be made. This needed to be discussed in more detail...Additionally, the babymother chapter seemed to, in a sense, shame single motherhood (in ways that were not unlike Moynihan's in his infamous report....). That chapter did, however raise interesting legal and moral questions about male reproductive rights, or non-gestational parent reproductive rights. I'm not sold on Morgan's argument at all, but the questions were interesting, nonetheless.Lastly, there were many parts of the book in which Morgan stated that it is perhaps necessary to question whether or not gender equality is something women really (should) want. Huh?!At the beginning of the book, Morgan says that she wrote the book because she “didn’t want to have to talk about 'the brother,' 'male domination,' or 'the patriarchy.' [She] wanted a feminism that would allow [her] to explore who we are as women—not victims” (56). I wholeheartedly agree. Yet, men ARE at the center of Morgan's analysis. This isn't a text about feminism or black women as much as it is a text about the intimate relationships between black men and women. What would be interesting to see is what an updated version of the text looks like. This book is very much grounded in the 90s, so I wonder if Morgan would have the same perspective over 20 years later...All in all, my assessment is that this book will leave you with more questions than answers. Morgan, however, never claimed that the book would leave readers with a clear understanding of the truth anyway: “This book by its lonesome won’t give you the truth. Truth is what happens when your cumulative voices fill in the breaks, provide the remixes, and rework the chorus” (26).

As a white woman who was raised in a diverse, low income neighborhood, I’ve never been able to relate to the middle class, suburban, white feminism movement. I was a teen mother, received transitional assistance as I worked my way through community college, and was married (now divorced) to a Southeast Asian immigrant who had the “best” of both patriarchal cultures shaping the way he treated me during our relationship. When I read Chickenheads, I felt like I discovered a feminism closer to the one I’ve been embracing as a divorced mom of two trying to find love and have a career and be a badass mother all at the same time. Reading this book has brought so much insight into why mainstream feminism hasn’t been embraced by our black and brown sisters, and challenges us white women to rethink the whole movement and what we ultimately want to accomplish because this white supremacist, patriarchal bs we’ve been dealing with needs to go and we haven’t made the moves we need to collectively to make it happen. Kudos to Joan Morgan for her honesty, her wisdom, her storytelling, and everything that makes her and this book compelling and poignant 20+ years later.

The book like the favorite auntie taking you out and giving you the facts. It was real, introspective, thoughtful, and relatable. I wish we could have another cultural breakdown of today's mainstream the way Chickenheads so flawlessly encapsulates the 90s

I like this book in that the author, Joan Morgan, does not try to act like her book has all the answers for everything. Instead, she just tries to offer her view and let you take what you can from it.First she explores how feminism has traditionally been interpreted in Black culture, and how this limiting definition has evolved in the 21st century, especially as it relates to being a part of the hip-hop culture. She also explores how history has influenced the current relations between black men and women, and their evolution into the strongblackwoman and endangeredblackman stereotypes. Joan also talks about the animosity between "chickenheads" and strongblackwomen, and encourages women to really be themselves.I especially like how Joan explores the relationship between black women and their fathers. She provides a unique insight and solution for this dilemma.This book is a timely message for "strong" black women who are looking for a way to absolve thier independence with their innate feminism.

This book is a must for any 'older schooled' hip hop female heads worldwide. Morgan has a wonderful street/hip hop rhetoric that speaks to women who have a love for this thing called hip hop and life. Ladies pay attention to her words! She is rough, rugged raw and honest. Mama's, try this book out on your daughters, you may need to read it with them or break Morgans pearls of wisdom down for them as their heads bob in and out of the book either agreeing, disagreeing or shooting looks of confusion. She hits the chicken head directly on the head, there is a little bit of chicken head in every women, depending on how you define chicken head and your own personal beliefs pertaining to the f word.

The language is rough at times, but the eloquence with which Morgan presents her musings, is pure. It's about time we hear the opinion of an honest voice from the current Hip-Hop culture, concerning gender relations, family and being a feminist. I am NOT in agreement personally on some of Morgan's beliefs, but can respect the presentation of her perspective. She brings to light some very difficult questions, and opens some doors that have been largely untouched.This book has nothing to do with Hip-Hop as an art form or media of expression, other than from the cultural perspective of being a young-ish American from the urban and largely "ethnic" culture. She is a beautiful black woman who is representing herself and her generation with honor and respect.

Thought-provoking, insightful and full of realistic wisdom. Joan Morgan finds no space to shy away from her heritage, culturally, linguistically and socially, written with the wonderfully colourful dialect of hip-hop's African-American population. The product was used but perfectly readable, and I'd love to pass Joan's wisdom on to another. Hip-hop's female point-of-view has been spear-headed by Joan Morgan and it's a perspective that needs to be heard in order to gain a grounding and a realistic understanding of the life of, not just hip-hop's people, but the hardships, pride and prejudice African-Americans faced in the latter half of the twentieth century, and it is still entirely applicable in this day and age. I can't recommend it enough.

This book was a great read. Although I am from the uk and the book was USA focused it was still relevant. However, there were few references to hip hop although the authors argument that the complexity of being a female fan of hip hop is achievable from a feminist perspective. Highly recommend this book to read. Delivery was swift and I did not put the book down until it was finished a few days later.

Fantastic book that everyone should read! You won't be able to put it down.