Book Alert: "What Are You Doing Here?"- Black Women In The Metal & Punk Scenes

How exciting is this? AP member Laina Dawes' book What Are You Doing Here? A Black Woman’s Life and Liberation in Heavy Metal is coming out in October. The foreword was written by none other than Skin from Skunk Anansie. The book tackles the good, the bad and the ugly sides of being a Black woman in the metal and punk scenes.
"I wanted to find other women who put aside the cultural baggage that dictates that we must listen to certain musical styles, and simply enjoy the music that influenced us, not just as black women, but as individuals who grew up in an era when, thanks to technology, a large variety of music is accessible and available to everyone. I found many black women and have shared their stories, but I also realize there is still a lot of work to be done.", Dawes explains.
Keep an eye out for the release, available now as a preorder here.

Table of Contents:

"Introduction – lead up to why the book was created (Dawes wrote an essay on Skunk Anansie’s Stiffed album for the anthology Marooned:The Next Generation of Desert Island Discs in 2007, which inspired her to write this book).

1. Canadian Steel (about my personal experiences as a black women in metal)

2. Metal Can Save Your Life (or at Least Your Sanity) – Discovery of freedom / liberation in metal, punk, hardcore music

3. We Were Here First – history of black participation in music, from the blues era to punk and metal

4. The 'Only One' Syndrome – being the only -or one of a few -black people at a show. Interactions and dynamics

5. So You Think You're White? – Criticisms from friends and/or family members in being black in the metal, punk and hardcore scenes

6. Too Black, Too Metal, and All Woman – Black female sexuality in the metal scene

7. Not a Whites-Only Scene: Fighting Racism in Metal

8. Get the Music Business Out Of the Way – Advice to women musicians from music artists, industry workers

Epilogue – Final comments about the book and interviewees and results from the surveys I distributed during the research phase of the book."

Tags: Are, Black, Dawes, Doing, Gender, Here, Laina, Metal, Punk, Racism, More…Scene, Sexism, What, Women, You

8 members like this

Comment

You need to be a member of AFRO-PUNK to add comments!

Join AFRO-PUNK

Comment by Binky B on December 10, 2012 at 1:22pm: This looks amazing!!!!

Comment by Jordana LeSesne on December 7, 2012 at 8:08pm: So looking forward to this book. So glad it's going to the printer. I put it at the top of my Must Read lists in the Black Rocker's group on Facebook

Comment by HeartOfAMetalhead on December 7, 2012 at 5:59pm: Woohoo!! I have no problem waiting Ms. Dawes. I'm pretty patient when it comes to books as I am an avid reader. But did just receive and email from Amazon concerning the order that I'm about to read as soon as this is posted. Can't wait to read. I will definitely let you know when I get it and when I finish it.

Comment by Laina Dawes on December 7, 2012 at 12:46pm: Hey everyone! the printer is sending the book to stores next week, so if you pre-ordered it you will be getting it soon! Sorry for the delay folks, but thank you so much for the support. You can also "like" the Facebook page for more immediate updates:http://www.facebook.com/whatareyoudoingherebook

Comment by HeartOfAMetalhead on November 12, 2012 at 1:17am: To anyone who pre-ordered this book: have you received it yet?

Comment by Jordana LeSesne on September 22, 2012 at 9:55pm: @HeartOfAMetalHead Don't give up. No matter what people say. No matter how difficult and unattainable it may seem. Never give up. Let your passion be your resolve.

Comment by HeartOfAMetalhead on September 21, 2012 at 10:53pm: @Jordana I definitely want to start a metal band but it's not easy to find folks who want it as bad as you do. I've been trying for a couple years and I haven't gotten as far as I'd hoped. I'm not gonna quit though

Comment by Gullah*Gotham*Glitter on September 12, 2012 at 9:21am: Looking forward to getting this book

Comment by HeartOfAMetalhead on September 10, 2012 at 10:05am: Kickass!! Lexi Brown on the cover!! This is definitely on my reading list. I will be ordering when it comes out!!