Sister Souljah's "No Disrespect": Black confessions and white oppression

Sister Souljah

Books that delve into the realities of Black life in America are few and far between. Likewise, there are very few authors or activists that are willing to expose some of the conflicts that exist within the Black community. The purpose of this paper is to select a new title and subtitle for Sister Souljah's book, No Disrespect. The paper will this discuss the reason for the new title and explain how it frames the issues presented in the book.

Black Confession and White Oppression:

The Autobiography of a Young Black Woman

The new title and subtitle for the book would be Black Confession and White Oppression: The Autobiography of a Young Black Woman. This title was chosen because the book discusses some the most important issues facing Black America and why the author feels that these issues are derivative of white oppression. The subtitle refers to the illustrations that Souljah presents to us concerning her life as a young woman

Black Confessions

Black Confessions" refers to Sister Souljah's depictions of the relationships that she had with Black men as a young woman. She also expresses how it felt to grow up in the projects. Souljah explains "I'm a young black sister with an unselfish heart who overdosed on love long ago. My closest friends consider me soft-spoken. Others say I have a deadly tongue. And while it's true that I have a spicy attitude like most of the ghetto girls I know, I back it up with a quick, precise, and knowledgeable mind. My memory runs way back and I'm inclined to remind people of the things they'd most like to forget." (Souljah... taken from Voices From the Gap)

She explains that she sacrificed a great deal of herself -- body, soul, spirit and intellect -- in an attempt to keep men in her life. In sharing her experiences Sister Souljah is confessing a situation that many Black women find themselves in. This is an issue that is often glossed over in many books written by African-Americans. These confessions explain the interaction between Black men and Black women.

Souljah also discusses the issue of homosexuality in the Black Community; a topic that is usually avoided by the community. She discusses her true feelings about homosexuals and how she feels about the way that homosexuals conduct themselves. Souljah seems to believe the homosexuality is wrong and shouldn't be practiced.

In addition, she discusses another taboo topic of the black woman and interracial dating. It seems that she is unable to accept the concept of dating a White man because of the history of white oppression in America. Souljah seems determined to be with someone of her own race and seems to assert that others should do the same.

The book also confesses the challenges of growing up in the ghetto and some of the miseducation that takes place in urban setting that are void of positive role models. In the book she asserts the ghetto girls are often not taught what true womanhood is about. (Souljah... taken from Voices from the Gap) Neither are they taught what true manhood should encompass. (Souljah... taken from Voices from the Gap)

This miseducation leads young women to discover what womanhood and manhood is learned through their personal experiences. These experiences are often negative and unhealthy and leave young women with broken hearts and lives. Souljah speaks about Black Culture and the mentality of some of the people that grew up in her neighborhood.

Throughout the book she really takes on the role of a teacher; advising ghetto youths and informing the Black community on our history and the ills of being Black in America. The language that she uses is raw but really allows the reader to relate to what she is attempting to convey. The language also illustrates the type of speech that individuals often used to express themselves in an urban setting.

The Autobiography of a Young Black Woman

The new subtitle simply points out that this book is based on Souljah's life. The book discusses her experiences growing up in a Bronx housing project. She describes her mother and having to live off of the welfare system as a child and the effect that this had on her. She also explains how living in the ghetto helped to shape her perceptions of life and the White world. Souljah also explains that growing up in this environment compelled her to learn more about Black history and African history in general.