Collection Development and Strategies Department

Silhouette of a woman's head filled with diverse, overlapping faces against a pink gradient background. Text reads "Black Women Writers: Featured Database."

Featured Database: Black Women Writers

You can use databases to easily find organized collections of articles, journals, news, streaming videos, primary sources, data, and more!  

  • This month, we highlight one of our specialized full-text databases: Black Women Writers.

What’s in it? 

  • This database covers writings related to feminism by authors in Africa and the African diaspora and contains 100,000 pages of literature and essays. This collection highlights black women creating their own identities and movements while facing sexism and racism. The collection also documents the evolution of black feminism and perspectives on the diversity and development of black people. Many of the writings have been hidden in rare and hard-to-find texts, obscure typewritten documents, photocopied journals, and other sources. Authors include Maya Angelou, Patricia Hill Collins, Maryse Conde (Guadeloupe)¸ Grace Ogot (Kenya), and more U.S. and Caribbean writers representing the heritage of more than 20 African countries. 

Why should you use it? 

  • Black Women Writers provides a wide range of full-text resources from Caribbean authors spanning the 18th through 20th centuries, 1960s activists in the U.S., 21st century poets, and more. Explore this database for topics like the historical, economic, and political conditions that affect women; slavery and colonialism; race and class by region; regional feminism; and the various leadership roles of women in society.

Who should use it?  

  • Anybody interested in black studies, women’s history and literature, and political studies, specifically related to black women and feminism. 

Why use a database? 

When you use a specific database, rather than a search engine or discovery tool, you often can find more relevant sources. For example, subject databases include sources about that subject only, rather than a general search engine or discovery tool that includes information about everything. This way you don’t have to wade through thousands of irrelevant results! 

Want more databases? 

Browse or search our Databases List! 

If you have questions about this database or others, Ask Us!