Lady writes the blues. Call and response in the poetry of Afro‐American women

Abstract

Asks on whose behalf the black woman poet in the USA speaks, what type of language she uses and what audience she has. Points out that an earlier lack of tradition meant that originally white styles of language were used and aimed at the white audience. Looks at the rise of the blues era and the “blueswoman”. Considers the work of Phillis Wheatley, Alice Dunbar Nelson, Anne Spencer and Angelina Grimke together with Margaret Walker and singers such as Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. Finally, outlines the development of a political era and the growing sexual freedom of black women and the impact their writings.

Citation

Hopewell, K. (2000), "Lady writes the blues. Call and response in the poetry of Afro‐American women", Equal Opportunities International, Vol. 19 No. 2/3/4, pp. 93-102. https://doi.org/10.1108/02610150010786328