Wild Woman Don't Wear No Blues

In this collection of introspective essays, 15 African American women writers explore the ways in which their love relationships have been defined by boundaries set for black women in a racist and sexist society. The topics cover a wide spectrum: Bebe Moore Campbell struggles to resolve her anger over love affairs between white women and black men; Ntozake Shange describes her difficulty in reconciling the pleasure she has gotten from black men with their sexist attitudes; Jewelle Gomez meditates on the strong bond between black lesbians and black gay men; and, in an especially powerful piece, DorisJean Austin recalls a rape she endured as a 12-year-old girl. Golden, who wrote the introduction and contributed an article, has compiled a strong collection of eloquent essays unified by unflinching honesty. Author tour. (Aug.)