Iconic: Decoding Images of the Revolutionary Black Woman

Grinnell College professor Johnson expects the term “revolutionary” to do too much work in this analysis of media representations of nine African-American women: Angela Davis and Kathleen Cleaver “in the news”; Pam Grier “in film”; Alice Walker and Audre Lorde “in literature”; Erykah Badu and Me’shell Ndegéocello “in music”; with a nod to the historical with Sojourner Truth, and a chapter for Michelle Obama. The term unfortunately becomes an empty verbal tic: “Ndegéocello’s performance of masculinity and femininity reflects the revolutionary way that her work negotiates binary oppositions.” In her conclusion, Johnson speaks of her subjects as “contribut[ing] to societal change through resisting negative images promoted by a society fearful of their power.” Along the way, she attempts to displace the stereotypical image of the “angry black woman,” with the dubious “strong black woman.” Alas, in the analysis of photographic images, much is in the eye of the beholder, and much is left to the mental dexterity of the reader in uncovering the meaning of “revolutionary.” The illustrations are informing, but their contemporaneous and historical interest are buried in part by the ephemeral nature of magazine covers, newspaper articles, book and record jackets, movie posters, and so forth. Readers in Johnson’s specialty (gender, women’s, and sexuality studies) may find food for thought. Photos. (Aug.)