Genderisms Decapitated and Smashed Heads

<p>From the time I met her over forty years ago I was fascinated by Dr. Jones' insight to capture Wright's geniousness and the statement he made about Black life in America and its relationship to the African diaspora. At a time when it was not widely recognized in closed shop literary circles she highlighted her subject's fixation on the aberrant behaviors of young Black men. Today largely because of the social conditions in America Wright's writings have come to past and as a conclusion of her scholarship we now dare to say out loud there is a 'Bigger Thomas' on every corner in America. Inspired by growing up in the all Black Douglass community of Memphis TN Dr. Jones' focus on gender studies offers a fresh take on never heretofore discussed issues that portray Wright's treatment of women. As a native Mississippian I was immersed in racism sexism and many obstacles African American women faced. For me Dr. Jones' work makes it all up close and personal.</p><p>-Carolyn Bell MS Harvard School of Public Health</p>