Shifting is the story of Black women.

Through the centuries, to cope with racial and gender discrimination, African American women have at times altered their speech, appearance, and behavior. They have shifted emotionally as they struggled to feel good about themselves in a hostile world. And often, in myriad ways, they have fought back. We, Charisse Jones and Kumea Shorter-Gooden, have attempted to shine a light on the double lives of Black women in America. Our African American Women's Voices Project gathered the stories of 400 women from all walks of life and every corner of the country who spoke about their triumphs and challenges on the job, raising Black children, in romantic relationships and in recognizing their own beauty. Their voices provide powerful and poignant insights into the psychology of Black women. We believe Shifting is a valuable tool for all Black women and for anyone who cares about them or the state of race and gender relations in our society.

Welcome to our website. We hope that all of you who choose to visit will walk away inspired and with much to think about. We include: