Shifting: The Double Lives of Black Women in America

Commemorating its 20th anniversary with a new Introduction and updated content, Shifting explores the many identities Black women must adopt in various spaces to succeed in America.

Based on the African American Women’s Voices Project, Shifting reveals that a large number of Black women feel pressure to compromise their true selves as they navigate America's racial and gender discrimination. Black women "shift" by altering the expectations they have for themselves or their outer appearance, a set of coping mechanisms explored in detail within these pages. 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 they encounter daily. And sometimes they shift by fighting back. In commemoration of its twentieth year in print with a new Introduction and updated content throughout, Shifting is a much-needed, clear, and comprehensive portrait of the reality of Black women's experiences with bias today.

This foundational text on the emotional well-being of Black women breaks down key concepts, including:

• The Sisterella Complex: A groundbreaking look at the unique manifestation of depression common among Black women, fueled by the pressure to overachieve while denying their own needs.
• The Lily Complex: An analysis of the pressure Black women feel to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards, from altering hair texture to navigating body image.
• Black Women in the Workplace: An exploration of how women "shift" to survive, dealing with everything from microaggressions to being overlooked for promotions in professional settings.
• Mothering Black Children: A look into the specific challenges of raising children to cope with a society still struggling with prejudice, and how mothers teach the ABCs of shifting for survival.

“A deeply moving, intimate and important book about the emotional costs for Black women in white America.” - Harriet Lerner, author of The Dance of Anger

“Always moving, at times haunting, and often inspirational, Shifting provides a richly textured look at the lives of Black women.” - Bebe Moore Campbell, author of What You Owe Me

“Searing...as I read Shifting... I wanted to rip out chapters and send them to nearly everyone I know.” - Gwen Ifill

“Shifting gives voice to generations of women who’ve been misunderstood, dismissed and overlooked. It’s essential reading for anyone who wants to understand ‘the most disrespected person in America’. I’m so grateful this book exists.” - Issa Rae

“Poignant…based on research garnered from the African American Women’s Voices Project, the largest study to date of black women.” - Booklist

“Stress is a common theme...the authors found good news...’We’re learning that we don’t have to lose ourselves.’” - Essence

“Urgent...compelling and educational…a real contribution.” - Publishers Weekly

"Shifting is an essential read for anyone who wants to understand the emotional and psychological balancing act that Black women navigate daily. As someone who has spent much of my career in predominantly white spaces, this book resonates deeply with me. Whether I’m on stage, in the boardroom, or under the public eye, I have often found myself 'shifting'—modifying how I speak, move, and engage to fit expectations while striving to stay true to who I am. Charisse Jones and Kumea Shorter-Gooden capture the unspoken pressures and dualities Black women face in the dance of identity, power, and survival. Twenty years later, Shifting is still as relevant as ever, providing a roadmap for Black women like myself to find strength, solidarity, and the freedom to embrace all parts of who we are. - Misty Copeland, American ballet dancer and New York Times bestselling author of The Wind at My Back

“Jones and Shorter-Gooden are wise, warm and candid, breaking new ground.... An important and powerful book for us all. - Mary Pipher

“Meaningful and poignant...this well researched and beautifully written book is a must read.” - William Pollack, Ph.D., author of Real Boys