Do you ever feel that you are working overtime to put others at ease? Or that you have to leave your true self at the door in order to placate White colleagues? Do you downplay your abilities or strengths for fear of outshining Black men? Do you speak one way at the office, another way to your girlfriends? Is it sometimes a struggle to feel good about your looks? Are you constantly battling stereotypes?

Based on the African American Women's Voices Project, Shifting reveals that a large number of African American women feel pressure to compromise their true selves as they navigate America's racial and gender bigotry. Black women "shift." They change the expectations they have for themselves. Or they alter their outer appearance. They modify their speech. They shift 'white' as they head to work in the morning and 'black' as they come back home each night. They shift inward, internalizing the searing pain of the negative stereotypes that they encounter daily. And sometimes they shift by fighting back.

With deeply moving interviews, poignantly revealed on each page, Shifting is a much-needed, clear, and comprehensive portrait of the reality of African American women's lives today.

Charisse and Kumea were interviewed on The Today Show Thursday, September 4 2003. Click here to read an excerpt of Shifting on the show's website.

What Others Have to Say about Shifting

"Always moving, at times haunting, and often inspirational, Shifting provides a richly textured look at the lives of Black women. Jones and Shorter-Gooden poignantly portray the day-to-day challenges and triumphs of 'sisters' at work, in relationships, and in their spiritual lives."

"Jones and Shorter-Gooden have combined the best of their journalistic and psychological training to bring us this compelling book. Living a well integrated life should be the goal of every woman, and Shifting helps us to begin that journey."

--Dr. Renita J. Weems, Vanderbilt Divinity School, author of Showing Mary: How Women Can Share Prayers, Blessings, and the Wisdom of God

"The authors use extensive research to support the searing voices of women who have been there, done that. Time and time again as I read Shifting, I saw the faces of the Black women-mothers, sisters, girlfriends, strangers-I have known. I wanted to rip out chapters and send them to nearly everyone I know."

"Shifting is a thorough examination of the complex and nuanced lives of today's American Black woman, beautifully written and solidly researched. Jones and Shorter-Gooden are wise, warm, and candid, breaking new ground in understanding the struggles of Black women to find their true selves. This is an important and powerful book for all of us."

"A pioneer study. The authors present the powerful voices of Black women as they struggle to navigate the dual realities of racism and sexism. Clear, well organized, brilliantly written, Shifting can be read and understood by the American public as well as students and professionals in mental health, pastoral counseling, social work, and the healing arts."

-- Joseph L. White, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of California, Irvine

"A must-read, not only for men and women of color, but perhaps especially for the rest of us, still too unaware what the toll of 'shifting' one's genuine identity has been, not only upon Black women, but our entire society!"

"A deeply moving, intimate and important book about the emotional costs for Black women in White America."

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What Others Have to Say about Shifting