Forty-Three Septembers: Essays by Jewelle Gomez

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Library Journal

In this collection of 15 personal essays, Gomez ( The Gilda Stories , Firebrand Bks., 1991) writes from the perspective of a ``middle aging'' black lesbian comfortable with her past and uncertain of the future. She writes with unwavering love, warmth, and appreciation of family members, especially of her African American/Native American great-grandmother who raised her. Within the story of the interrelationships of family, Gomez interweaves African American history with the issues of racism, sexism, and homophobia among blacks and whites. In these discussions, Gomez delves astutely into the areas of literature, advertising, comedy, music, drama, religion, and politics. These essays extend beyond autobiography into criticism, making the tenor of the work somewhat inconsistent. Nonetheless, the book is enjoyable and certainly reflective of the transition ``from a solid past to an unknown future.'' Gomez's words flow with an ease, honesty, and intellect that is mesmerizing.-- Jeris Cassel, Rutgers Univ. Libs., New Brunswick, N.J.