Super Short Summary

In Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America, Melissa V. Harris-Perry explores what it means to be both Black and female in the U.S., illustrating how racist and sexist stereotypes such as the Mammy, Jezebel, and Sapphire shape Black women's identities and societal treatment. She contends that these stereotypes create a "crooked room" effect, causing women to internalize these distorted views, and argues for dismantling these harmful norms to better understand and support Black womanhood. This book discusses sensitive topics, including racial and sexual oppression.