Set the World on Fire: Black Nationalist Women and the Global Struggle for Freedom
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Historian Blain (Univ. of Pittsburgh) sheds new light on the black nationalist movement by viewing the story through the lens of prominent female activists. She demonstrates how such figures as Mittie Maude Lena Gordon, Celia Jane Allen, Amy Jacques Garvey, and other notable activists who were followers of Marcus Garvey tested and redefined the traditional nature of their (gender) roles within the movement and eventually sustained leadership positions. Blain reexamines the previous historical time line of declining black nationalism by determining such eras as the Great Depression, WW II, and parts of the Cold War as powerful and important times for the movement. The author does an excellent job of exposing truths as well as touching on certain complexities of black nationalism. One problematic issue involves the Back to Africa concept seemingly supported by white nationalists, an odd but somewhat shared theme. Activist women tested the boundaries of traditional civil rights views and redefined the narrative. Blain complements their struggle by redefining the historical notation on the subject and bringing their story to life. For most readers interested in feminism, civil rights, and African American, political, and social history. Summing Up: Recommended. All academic levels/libraries. --Jeremy Taylor Pekarek, SUNY At Cortland

Blain, assistant professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh, illuminates an oft-ignored period of black nationalist and internationalist activism in the U.S.: the Great Depression, World War II, and early Cold War. Her engrossing study shows that much of this activism was led by African-American and Afro-Caribbean women. As racism intensified the sufferings of black Americans during the Depression, people of color in Africa and the Caribbean were increasingly agitated by British imperial rule; this circumstance encouraged female activists who had participated in Marcus Garvey's movement to see the task of fighting white supremacy as one that united people of African descent across physical and political boundaries. Blain bolsters the roll of well-known black internationalists with less-familiar figures such as Chicago "street scholar" Mittie Maude Lena Gordon, who urged black Americans to emigrate to West Africa; Josephine Moody, who argued that black freedom could come only from the global overthrow of white power and urged African-Americans to "set the world on fire"; and Ethel Collins, who called on women to resist patriarchy within the black-nationalist movement. Adding essential chapters to the story of this movement, Blain expands current understanding of the central roles played by female activists at home and overseas. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Blain (history, Univ. of Pittsburgh; Charleston Syllabus) explores women's roles in the black nationalist movement between 1918 and the 1960s, profiling prominent figures, including Amy Jacques Garvey, Celia Jane Allen, and Mittie Maude Lena Gordon. All of these women were followers of Marcus Garvey, who espoused black nationalism and black capitalism along with patriarchal gender roles. However, as women became more involved in the movement, they eventually assumed leadership positions in defiance of Garvey's teachings and worked to redefine the message to be more feminist and inclusive. To accomplish this goal, they formed alliances with other minority groups and tailored press messages, with mixed effectiveness. A good portion of the analysis is spent on groups that advocated for returning to Africa. Blain also addresses the problematic aspects of black nationalism, including alliances made with white supremacists along with colonialist attitudes inherent in the "back to Africa" movement. VERDICT An enlightening analysis of the relationship between black nationalism and feminism. Recommended for scholars interested in the subject.-Rebekah Kati, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Blain (history, Univ. of Pittsburgh; Charleston Syllabus) explores women's roles in the black nationalist movement between 1918 and the 1960s, profiling prominent figures, including Amy Jacques Garvey, Celia Jane Allen, and Mittie Maude Lena Gordon. All of these women were followers of Marcus Garvey, who espoused black nationalism and black capitalism along with patriarchal gender roles. However, as women became more involved in the movement, they eventually assumed leadership positions in defiance of Garvey's teachings and worked to redefine the message to be more feminist and inclusive. To accomplish this goal, they formed alliances with other minority groups and tailored press messages, with mixed effectiveness. A good portion of the analysis is spent on groups that advocated for returning to Africa. Blain also addresses the problematic aspects of black nationalism, including alliances made with white supremacists along with colonialist attitudes inherent in the "back to Africa" movement. VERDICT An enlightening analysis of the relationship between black nationalism and feminism. Recommended for scholars interested in the subject.—Rebekah Kati, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Blain, assistant professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh, illuminates an oft-ignored period of black nationalist and internationalist activism in the U.S.: the Great Depression, World War II, and early Cold War. Her engrossing study shows that much of this activism was led by African-American and Afro-Caribbean women. As racism intensified the sufferings of black Americans during the Depression, people of color in Africa and the Caribbean were increasingly agitated by British imperial rule; this circumstance encouraged female activists who had participated in Marcus Garvey's movement to see the task of fighting white supremacy as one that united people of African descent across physical and political boundaries. Blain bolsters the roll of well-known black internationalists with less-familiar figures such as Chicago "street scholar" Mittie Maude Lena Gordon, who urged black Americans to emigrate to West Africa; Josephine Moody, who argued that black freedom could come only from the global overthrow of white power and urged African-Americans to "set the world on fire"; and Ethel Collins, who called on women to resist patriarchy within the black-nationalist movement. Adding essential chapters to the story of this movement, Blain expands current understanding of the central roles played by female activists at home and overseas. (Feb.)