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The Truth that Never Hurts: Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom
The Truth that Never Hurts: Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom
Rutgers University Press, 2000 — Literary Criticism — 217 pages
https://barbarasmithaintgonna.com/about-barbaras-work/
https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/until-black-women-are-free-none-of-us-will-be-free
https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/books/a17048702/barbara-smith-feminist-interview/
Focusing on lesbianism and women of color is Barbara Smith’s piece “The Truth that Never Hurts Black Lesbians in Fiction in the 1980's.” Smith gives us a run-down of what has and has not changed between her 1977 commentary on black criticism and her 1985 article here.
She lists the women’s anthologies that have been published by women of color that include This Bridge Called My Back, Home Girls, and more, reminding us that literary critics Calvin Hernton and Barbara Christian both share a similar theory that many of these anthologies represent books published predominantly by the smaller presses rather than larger more mainstream publishers. Smith lets us know that what has not changed is black lesbian acceptability in any mainstream publishing arena.
She does however credit feminism with a rising acceptance of the discussion of lesbianism on a public level. Christian also agrees with her.
