"In Search of Purity: Eugenics and Racial Uplift among New Negroes, 1915-1935" by Dr. Shantella Sherman is a thought-provoking and insightful book that explores the intersections of race, gender, and class in the African American community, and the impact of these intersections on black women's experiences of identity, self-worth, and belonging.
It is a dissertation that examines the reinterpretation of eugenic theories by Black scholars, who helped integrate the science into a social movement for racial uplift.
Drawing on her own experiences as an African American woman, as well as the experiences of other black women she has worked with, Sherman argues that African American women often face unique challenges in defining and expressing their identities. She contends that these challenges stem from a history of oppression and marginalisation, as well as from cultural expectations and stereotypes that limit black women's sense of self and agency.
Sherman also explores the ways in which black women have responded to these challenges, and the strategies they have developed to resist oppression and assert their identities. She argues that these strategies are often grounded in a sense of community and solidarity, and that they can be empowering and transformative for black women.
"In Search of Purity" is its focus on the experiences and perspectives of African American women. Sherman focuses the voices and experiences of black women in her analysis, and her book provides a much-needed corrective to the marginalisation and erasure of black women's experiences in mainstream discussions of race and gender.
Overall, "In Search of Purity" is a powerful and insightful book that sheds light on the complex intersections of race, gender, and class in the African American community. It offers valuable insights and perspectives for anyone interested in issues of identity, social justice, and empowerment.
"In Search of Purity: Eugenics and Racial Uplift among New Negroes, 1915-1935"
