This is an original, full length biography of Britain's first twentieth-century black feminist - Una Marson - poet, playwright, and social activist and BBC broadcaster. Una Marson is recognised today as the first major woman poet of the Caribbean and as a significant forerunner of contemporary black writers; her story throws light on the problems facing politicised black artists. In challenging definitions of 'race' and 'gender' in her political and creative work, she forged a valiant path for later black feminists. Her enormous social and cultural contributions to the Caribbean and Britain have, until now, remained hidden in archives and memoirs around the world. Based on extensive research and oral testimony, this biography embraces postcolonial realities and promise, and is a major contribution to British cultural history. -- .

What does it mean to study Shakespeare within a multicultural society? And who has the power to transform Shakespeare? The Diverse Bard explores how Shakespeare has been adapted by artists born on the margins of the Empire, and how actors of Asian and African-Caribbean origin are being cast by white mainstream directors. It examines how notions of 'race' define the contemporary British experience, including the demands of traditional theatre, and it looks at both the playtexts themselves and contemporary productions. Editor Delia Jarrett-Macauley assembles a stunning collection of classic texts and new scholarship by leading critics and practitioners, to provide the first comprehensive critical and practical analysis of this field.

What does it mean to study Shakespeare within a multicultural society? And who has the power to transform Shakespeare? The Diverse Bard explores how Shakespeare has been adapted by artists born on the margins of the Empire, and how actors of Asian and African-Caribbean origin are being cast by white mainstream directors. It examines how notions of 'race' define the contemporary British experience, including the demands of traditional theatre, and it looks at both the playtexts themselves and contemporary productions. Editor Delia Jarrett-Macauley assembles a stunning collection of classic texts and new scholarship by leading critics and practitioners, to provide the first comprehensive critical and practical analysis of this field.

Reconstructing Womanhood, Reconstructing Feminism is the first British feminist anthology to examine concepts of womanhood and feminism within the context of ` race' and ethnicity. Challenging contemporary feminist theory, the book highlights ways in which constructions of womanhood have traditionally excluded black women's experience, and proposes a reconsideration of terms such as `feminist'. The research subjects and methods of many of the contributors have been shaped by the specifics of the Black British experience and context. New information is presented, old ideologies reexamined, and previously concealed ideologies are revealed. This collection brings together various ideas about `difference' and identity. It covers a wide range of social and cultural issues including the position of black women in the church, lesbian identity in film, contemporary African feminism, and British immigration law.

By examining concepts of womanhood and feminism within the context of "race" and ethnicity, this work challenges contemporary feminist theory, highlighting the ways in which constructions of womanhood have traditionally excluded black women's experience and proposing a rconsideration of terms such as "feminist". Most of the contributors are women living in Britain whose research subjects and methods are shaped by the specifics of the black British experience and context. Representing a variety of backgrounds including sociology, literary criticism, history and cultural theory, the contributors make new information accessible, add fresh nuances to well-explored aresa, re-examine old ideologies and uncover previously concealed ones. This anthology brings together various ideas about "difference" and identity. It covers social and cultural issues ranging from the position of black women in the church to representation in films. Some of the chapters look at the writings of one novelist; others have a wider scope and tackle broad subjects such as feminism and African Women.