RECLAIMING HERSELF: A BLACK FEMINIST READING OF ALICIA KEYS’ MORE MYSELF

Abstract

The research, Reclaiming Herself: A Black Feminist Reading of Alicia Keys’ More Myself  is an analytical study of an autobiographical book by  Alicia Keys More Myself: A Journey  through the lens of Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hills. The text showcases  how  black women shape their identity, gain knowledge through experience, self hood and resistance within celebrity contexts. The sample for the study consists of excerpts from Keys’ book that foreground experiences of  identity formation, emotional struggle, creativity, motherhood and social activism throughout her life. The study is of qualitative paradigm as it employs textual analysis to analyze the text. The findings reveal that More Myself : A Journey functions as a Black feminist autobiographical text in which Alicia Keys challenges racialized beauty norms, resists the “Strong Black Woman” stereotype and renames vulnerability as a source of strength and knowledge. The book exposes the nature of oppression supported by intersectionality within the music industry, demonstrating how race, gender and class operate within Collins’ matrix of domination. Furthermore, the text highlights the role of motherhood, inter generational knowledge  and artistic expression in shaping political consciousness and activism. The study concludes that Alicia Keys’ More Myself embodies Patricia Hill Collins’ claim that Black women identity is not just shaped by oppression but also by actively gaining knowledge through their lived experiences.