Lexington Books Black Women and Popular Culture: The Conversation Continues

With the emergence of popular culture phenomena such as reality television, blogging, and social networking sites, it is important to examine the representation of Black women and the potential implications of those images, messages, and roles. Black Women and Popular Culture: The Conversation Continues provides such a comprehensive analysis. Using an array of theoretical frameworks and methodologies, this collection features cutting edge research from scholars interested in the relationship among media, society, perceptions, and Black women. The uniqueness of this book is that it serves as a compilation of "hot topics" including ABC's Scandal, Beyoncé's Visual Album, and Oprah's Instagram page. Other themes have roots in reality television, film, and hip hop, as well as issues of gender politics, domestic violence, and colorism. The discussion also extends to the presentation and inclusion of Black women in advertising, print, and digital media. Review Black Women and Popular Culture: The Conversation Continues crosses all media platforms while providing substantive historical background and cutting-edge cultural studies. From film and cable to convergence, from advertising to hip hop and rap, this collection deftly takes its audience on the digital and cyberspace highway to better understand the rich crossroads of diversity, identity, and culture.--Barbara B. Hines, Howard University In this collection, the reader finds expansive discussions and analyses of the Black experience as depicted in popular culture. The chapters are unique in perspective and filled with probing issues in communication that affect cultural values, belief systems, and self-esteem issues. The foci are far reaching, capturing the interest of a wide audience. Students and scholars will see a number of methodologies, as well as state-of-the art, provocative, cutting-edge research. This book will make a valuable contribution to the discipline. I applaud Drs. Goldman, Ford, Harris, and Howard for their excellent work in editing this volume.--Melbourne S. Cummings, Howard University About the Author Adria Y. Goldman is assistant professor of communication at Gordon State College. VaNatta S. Ford is assistant professor of communication studies at Columbia College. Alexa A. Harris is a communications consultant in Washington, DC. Natasha R. Howard is assistant professor of communication at Bronx Community College.