Summary Of Straight No Chaser By Jill Nelson

The 1960s were viewed as a turbulent period of change and revolution in society. The Civil Rights Movement embodied a message of equality as African Americans sought out to end racial segregation and discrimination. The Women’s Rights Movement altered the relationships between genders as women fought for equal rights. Leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X added hope and moral strength to movements as they spoke out for racial equality. This decade remains a significant turning point for the country, as it acted as a catalyst for future prosperity. In Jill Nelson’s autobiography, Straight, No Chaser, Nelson urges women to reexamine their daily existence and begin to establish a positive identity through the hardships manifested in the black community. She courageously reflects on her experience growing up as a black female immersed in a racist and sexist society. There are many themes presented in this direct yet realistic autobiography but the ones which stand out the most are gender, empowerment and strength. Nelson portrays how black women are invisible and looked over by others, frequently feeling like …show more content…
Nelson reveals how black women often turn their rage inward, making them feel vulnerable and helpless. However, Nelson preaches to women to “take that negative, internalized niggerbitchfit and use it to work toward positive internal and external change” (225). Nelson expresses the importance of black females to be a powerful voice in societies daily dialogue, transform the community into a place of security and tackle challenges face on. Through the hardships faced by blacks, black females in particular, Nelson calls for the attention on women to no longer be oppressed by expectations of others. Nelson empowers black women to view themselves just as important as everyone else and that they “deserve voice, power, and influence”