Sisters in the Life

“An important, thoughtful, and infinitely readable collection. Yvonne Welbon, Alexandra Juhasz, and the many writers and filmmakers in here have always broken—and continue to break—new ground.” - Jacqueline Woodson

“Like a VIP invitation to the coolest party, Sisters in the Life provides access to long-off-limits company in the trenches of cultural production and exhibition and reveals how queer filmmakers of color came to prominence and how friendship networks nurtured creativity and access. Yvonne Welbon and Alexandra Juhasz are the perfect guides—for their expertise, knowledge of the archive, and first-hand involvement in the history. For anyone who still thinks that great films appear magically out of thin air, this truth-telling volume will be a revelation.” - B. Ruby Rich, Professor, University of California, Santa Cruz

"Sisters in the Life is an act of reclamation, a means of shining a light on the critical work that these women have done with little recognition or fanfare. . . . For those who are invested in the history of representation, Sisters in the Life is worth adding to your bookshelf." - Evette Dionne, Bitch

"This well-researched title is highly recommended for readers interested in African American, women's, LGBTQ, and general film studies." - Sally Bryant, Library Journal

"Sisters in the Life moves uninterruptedly from strength to strength. Along the way, its stories are eclectic but interrelated, U.S.-centered but increasingly global, alert to ongoing inequities but inspired by past and present accomplishments— and by futures that look brighter all the time." - Nick Davis, Film Comment

"In this academic but engaging anthology, contributors examine the important contributions of black lesbian filmmakers over the past three decades. Finally, filmmakers like Cheryl Dunye, Dee Rees, and Angela Robinson get their due. So too should Welbon (director of 1993’s famed Sisters in the Life: First Love.)" - Jacob Anderson-Minshall, The Advocate

"This is an eye-opening study that seems likely to become a classic in its genre." - Jean Roberta, Gay & Lesbian Review

"This groundbreaking collection of essays will be useful to anyone interested in alternate histories, cultural studies, issues of production, marginalized media, or queer cinema. . . . Since very few texts like this exist—meaning those that center Black lesbian media makers—this book could serve as a model for moving away from a traditional anthology structure to include interviews, group response via fax machine, reflections on the technical process of media-making, and other innovative examples." - Briana Barner, Resources for Gender and Women's Studies