By placing Africana womanism within a literary context, this book expands the layered meanings of this family-centred, race-based theory and applies them to the works and ideas of renowned international literary figures such as Toni Morrison, Paul Marshall and Buchi Emecheta. Hudson-Weems also defines and explores two important characteristics of African womanism, positive black male-female relationships and genuine sisterhood, as factors that are not only crucial to the foundation of a strong Africana family but also to the success of its community.