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.