What a great introduction and reacquaintance with some of the most respected women in literature. This book does that I believe other books have attempted which is to introduce and acknowledge experiences and novice readers to immensely talented writers of our time. Dr. Jackson did a wonderful job of curating this selection of essay which provided well deserved praise to thinkers who shaped the world and specifically black feminist culture with their bravery and insight. There were so many writers that I as already familiar with and a few that I was introduced to through this book not only as they offered essays recounting the impact other talented writers had on them personally but also as a showcase of their own talented skills. I immensely enjoyed this book.

This work is a collection of essays written by the author exploring the legacy of famous Black women and how they influenced the authors life. This work is set up in a fascinating way. For example, chapter one is labeled “Harriet Jacobs Taught Me About Freedom,” and the chapter goes on to include a small biography of the woman mentioned and how she and her writings impacted the author’s life. I enjoyed how the author used this device to set up the expectations of each chapter.

I appreciated how many references were present throughout the work. As the author draws on a lot of history, including specific events, speeches, etc., including the references was an excellent choice to ground the author’s work and to provide a way to do more research on your own if you choose. The last section of the book also includes authors and books the author recommends as you’re continuing to read about Black feminism.

There were many deeply personal moments relating to the author’s race, gender, queerness, and disability that were included throughout the chapters. The interweaving of these personal moments with so many historical moments and small biographies of Black women made this a fascinating mix of memoir and history. There are also many instances where the author traced back the origin of terms commonly used today in relation to race, such as “intersectionality” or “ally,” which I found extremely informative. There were a few statements in the book that I didn’t agree with. However, as they seemed to be based on the author’s personal experiences, it wasn’t of much note.

This isn’t a book you just sit down and read in one sitting. I took it a chapter at a time at a slow pace, trying to absorb the information and digest it before moving on. If you’re interested in a mix of memoir with history and Black feminism, then this is worth checking out. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I teach a Women's History course and this helped me bring more awareness and education to not only the kids, but myself as well. I liked it so much, I am having our Media Center buy copies for students.

"Black Women Taught Us" is a book that celebrates the strength and achievements of Black women throughout history. Dr. Jackson tells their stories in a way that shows how they've overcome challenges and made important contributions to society. The book digs deep into history, revealing parts that aren't always talked about, and it gives us valuable lessons and motivation. It reminds us of the significant impact Black women have had on the world and encourages everyone to appreciate their determination, creativity, and resilience. It's a compelling read for anyone who wants to be inspired by the lasting legacy of Black women.

Highly recommend this one!!

I did not love the structure of this one. I didn't really feel myself reaching for it - it took me forever to read. I felt that it was a little stiff and boring. I did learn a decent amount and was fascinated by some of the parts, just felt that some read like a textbook.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and netgalley for the arc

This book was an amazing read. It touched my spirit while feeding my mind. It is a definite must read. An ode to resiliency and fortitude of an impressive collective of inspiring women. I will revisit these women again within the pages of this wonderfully written book. I am glad that I selected and read this book. Kudos to the author. Thank you!

BLACK WOMEN TAUGHT US by Jenn M. Jackson is a beautifully written book. The way Jackson reveals their own story, interweaving it with the stories of the Black women who organized and fought for a better world is very well done. Jackson shows us a way into a the future.

I really tried to get into it. I love learning about history especially Black History and finding out new things but, this book totally missed the mark for me. It had a lot more about and her life story than any thing. There was around two-three pages devoted to the women then she’d go off and start a new subject. It just wasn’t for me. I could see if it was just the beginning but it was after every chapter and then it just felt like she trying to recruit me or something. Or if you don’t agree you’re against women this is my opinion after reading.

Wow this book was so good. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend. I'm a huge fan of this author and I recommend going into this book knowing as little as possible. I can't wait to read what she comes with next.

Black Women Taught Us by Jenn M. Jackson is a beautiful exploration of experiences that sang from the page to my heart. I enjoyed it very much.

Jackson takes several seminal Black Feminist who have influenced her life in one way or another and gives them each their ‘flowers’ in this collection of essays.

The essays include quick biographies of these women and the ways they help shaped the author’s life.

This was an easy, informative read that I strongly recommend.

simply Amazing. That was my thoughts by the time I got to the end of the book. So many gems and lessons by so many black women was just powerful. If you truly care about black women and are a feminist/womanist, you need this book in your rotation.

I met Dr. Jackson when I was covering student led protests on campus at Syracuse University. They are a phenomenal thinker and you should read their book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

In Black Women Taught Us, Jenn Jackson looks back at notable Black feminists and reflects on their work in order to provide a context and framework for the future.

As someone whose education was astonishingly lacking in this section of history, I cannot begin to list the number of things I learned from this book, both in terms of actual historical fact and the thoughtful, nuanced analysis that Jackson provides. Every page of this book, every sentence, is rich and insightful, approachable and valuable. It's rare to find a nonfiction that I can't put down, and this was certainly one of them. In so many ways, this book feels essential, and I hope other readers will glean from it all I did, and more.

The phrase Black Girl Magic glosses over the hard work and leadership that Black women have provided their
communities and the USA for years. In Black Women Taught Us, Jenn Jackson provides us with profiles of 11 Black women leaders from bell hooks, Angela Davis, and Harriet Jacobs. Twelve if you count Jackson’s own reflections of how they grew into their voice as a queer genderflux androgynous Black woman, parent, and scholar - and you should. Black Women Taught Us is a great introduction and refresher (it’s been a few years since I’ve read any Lorde) to Black feminist thought. This could be the basis of a course, as well as a kick ass book club selection.

In recent years, we’ve witnessed the brilliance of Stacy Abrams, Maxine Waters’ unwavering stamina and perseverance, the political savvy of Kamala Harris, and countless other Black women who move in front of the camera and behind the scenes. This novel reminds us that they stand on the shoulders of great women who demonstrated unmatched courage to step up and speak out. These essays reveal that many were fueled by internal drive, personal experiences, and their inmates talents. They put aside their fears (and some risked their lives) to expose injustice everywhere (social, academic, etc) and embrace activism (in a myriad of creative ways) to evoke the necessary changes for equal rights and social change.

The author’s scholarship, research, and brilliance was on display. I absolutely loved the introduction (echoing the value, fortitude, and wisdom of unsung heroes that surround us in daily life) and her essays on all the featured women (Harriett Jacobs, Ida B. Wells, Audre Lorde, etc). I marveled at their experiences and how the author revealed the foundation,drew parallels and revealed the interconnectedness of their plights and causes. I highlighted so much – this is one I will return to often. Well Done!

Thanks to the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.

"Black Women Taught Us" is an insightful and beautiful memoir that examines the invaluable contributions made by Black feminists, including Ida B. Wells, Bell Hooks, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde, Angela Davis, and many others. Through skillful storytelling, Dr. Jackson amplifies the voices of historically marginalized people and shares their personal transformative journey and the profound influence each featured woman has had on them. This book is a collection of essays that provides an essential educational resource and a compelling call to action. It sheds light on the untold stories of Black women's remarkable accomplishments. It inspires readers to learn from and uplift their work. Whether you are well-versed in Black activism or new to Black history, this book is a must-read that beautifully encapsulates the legacy and impact of these revolutionary women while demonstrating the author's own journey of inspiration. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this important work.

I will be posting the following review to Goodreads and Instagram tonight, 1/22/24.

What Black Women Taught Us was a thought-provoking and challenging book. I think it is important to challenge our own perspectives on reality around us, as our realities can be so different from other people's realities. I also believe it is important to educate yourself on topics you know you are lacking in, and I know my education severely lacked when it comes to black history, and especially black women in history. That being said, this book was a great way for me to start filling in these gaps, drive me to make space for black women, and challenge my perception on society around me. It was an extremely well written book sharing about important black women in history and how it related to Jenn M. Jackson PhD, and how we can take those lessons with us in to our own lives. I would give this book a 5/5. What Black Women Taught Us comes out tomorrow, so make sure to run and get your copy ASAP!

Jenn M. Jackson’s Black Women Taught Us caught me by surprise. Expecting a more typical scholarly book focused on black women teachers, I found myself engrossed in an unexpected wealth of materials.
Listing chapter titles such as “Harriet Jacobs Taught Me About Freedom,” “Zora Neale Hurston taught Me About the Reclamation of Our Labor,” and “Ella Baker Taught Me Why We Should Listen to Young People,” the table of contents led me to expect considerable research-based biographical information and an explanation of how the author learned a lesson.

Instead, Professor Jackson roams freely from idea to idea but always with a plan. She sometimes starts with the woman from whom she learned, quotie from that person’s work or related people, transitions to more recent people and events, and smoothly incorporating incidents from her own life ranging from pre-school to academia. Other times, she starts with the more personal material and transitions to the black woman whose name appears in the chapter’s title.

Chapter by chapter, readers learn about the people and events that have shaped Jenn Jackson, now a Syracuse University political science professor whose classes such as Black Feminist Politics draw many students marginalized by race, ethnicity, economic class, or sexuality. Little would I have expected a person with Jackson's current qualifications to have spent a five-year stint at Disneyland--a place that proved not to be the Magic Kingdom for a young black woman.

Incorporating topics such as the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, the murders of George Floyd and Trayvon Martin, the Black Lives Matters Movement, and systemic racism, Professor Jackson may well face criticism from members of the far right who hear about the book or dip in here and there. Refusing to accept the existence of systemic racism and believing that LGBTQ+ people have consciously made an immoral choice, they will condemn her social activist stance and teachings as well as her sexual identity.

However, more open-minded readers will recognize Jackson’s strong case for coming to terms with oneself, with discovering one’s self-identity. In her conclusion, “I Taught Myself About Patience,” Jackson begins with a preschool playground incident and ties it in with the person she has become, describing her book as a “story of becoming,” of learning lessons from those in her past, thus enabling her to find her place in “a larger social world.”

Regardless of race, ethnicity, class, or gender identity, anyone reading Jackson’s book through to the end, including her touching conclusion with its itemized list of five lessons, should appreciate her optimism. True, she believes in and repeatedly makes her case for systemic racism, sexism, gender bias, and more, but her ultimate message is one of hope if only everyone is open to learning. To help readers move forward with their educations, she closes with brief descriptions of and sources by other black women who can guide the way.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an egalley of Jackson’s personal look at critical American issues today.

The intertwined themes of resilience, perseverance, and self-care mark this as a letter and a reminder to Black Women, especially, but all Black people. Jenn M. Jackson goes for the jugular with their intermingled personal experiences that perfectly entail how a particular Black feminist taught them a lesson through the women in their own family.

How to be free to be you and free from the shackles family, society, and everything in between have placed upon you. How to be free in telling your truth and be comfortable in the power that gives you. How to reclaim yourself: you belong to no one, no system, no person, no company. You can only be and go where you allow yourself to go. Listen to those who are younger than you because they might be seeking power and strength in the same way you once were.

Be unbothered. Embrace yourself. Don’t shrink your shine. Unwanted attention doesn’t have to be accepted, but it doesn’t mean to hide who you are either. Have boundaries. Make others accountable for their actions and their words. The status quo doesn’t work for you but remember to care for yourself. Find solidarity and oneness within yourself and others. Take the time you need to build yourself up and be the most comfortable you that you can ever be.

These are snapshots of the lessons Jackson gathered from the likes of Zora Neale Hurston, bell hooks, and Harriett Tubman. There are so many other powerful Black feminists named in Black Women Taught Us. The stories and retellings of these individuals’ lives, including Jackson’s, will have you shocked even in knowing, batting away tears even in expecting, and finding harmony even in memory.