Literacy in a Long Blues Note: Black Women's Literature and Music in the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries.

In the book "Literacy in a Long Blues Note: Black Women’s Literature and Music in the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries," Coretta M. Pittman explores the literary and musical expressions of Black women during this time period. Pittman focuses on the "hidden voices" of the Women's Era and the New Negro Era, highlighting the importance of literacy for Black people's advancement. The book covers a diverse range of texts and genres, tracing the contributions of Black women and their use of literary techniques. Pittman also examines the entanglement of literature and citizenship during this period and the harmful representations of Black Americans in popular literature. The book analyzes the works of various authors, including Anna Julia Cooper, Victoria Earle Matthews, Katherine D. C. Tillman, Pauline E. Hopkins, Zora Neale Hurston, and Mamie Smith, among others. Pittman argues that Blues music provided Black women with a means of expression and agency, addressing taboo subjects and validating working-class Black American life. Overall, the book offers insights into the intersection of African American literature and feminist public address, showcasing the importance of Black women's literary contributions in addressing racial tension and violence. [Extracted from the article]