The Zora Canon
January 7, 2020 6:23 AM Subscribe
"Here we are, almost two decades into the new millennium, with this list made in conversation with, acknowledgement, and praise of others. Made for ourselves. And made here, in this space, where it is accessible to anyone with Wi-Fi and a phone. It is a new digital map for our consciousness and a space to create anew what it means to write and read as a Black woman. I cannot wait to read the works that will come from the people who find this list on their timeline, read the pieces, find the books, and feel called upon to write something in response to the voices calling out to them." Kaitlyn Greenidge introduces Zora's new Canon of African American Women's Literature.
What a fantastic list. So many great books, so many books I've never heard of. Thank you for sharing!
This is the thinking that casts Black women’s writing as the broccoli of literature, something you consume for virtue’s sake, not because you relish the taste. I read Black women because I was hungry for us, and I liked our tastes.
posted by sunset in snow country at 8:03 AM on January 7, 2020 [2 favorites]
This is the thinking that casts Black women’s writing as the broccoli of literature, something you consume for virtue’s sake, not because you relish the taste. I read Black women because I was hungry for us, and I liked our tastes.
posted by sunset in snow country at 8:03 AM on January 7, 2020 [2 favorites]
I'm kind of sad that there are only two comments on this post after one day!
I spent a bit of time yesterday reading through the list and putting it all into a google sheet so I can mark them off as I read them. I am a total completist when it comes to lists like this, so while it'll definitely take me a long time to get through them all (there are only a couple that I've already read), I am excited to give it a go.
Thank you so much for sharing!
posted by hetobeto at 7:31 AM on January 8, 2020 [2 favorites]
I spent a bit of time yesterday reading through the list and putting it all into a google sheet so I can mark them off as I read them. I am a total completist when it comes to lists like this, so while it'll definitely take me a long time to get through them all (there are only a couple that I've already read), I am excited to give it a go.
Thank you so much for sharing!
posted by hetobeto at 7:31 AM on January 8, 2020 [2 favorites]
I've read more of these than I expected--mostly the feminist stuff and modern nonfiction, plus some of the literary fiction when I was in college and it was required reading. Looking forward to filling in some of the gaps.
posted by box at 8:28 AM on January 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by box at 8:28 AM on January 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
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