African American Women's Health and Addiction Autobiography " I'm Black and I'm Drunk ", on Alcoholism and Recovery, 1976

1976. I'm Black and I'm Drunk by Chaney Allen, published in 1976, presents an autobiographical account of alcoholism written by an African American woman reflecting on addiction, family life, and recovery during the social transformations of the 1970s. Allen recounts her experience as the daughter of a Baptist minister while describing the personal and social pressures that shaped her struggle with alcohol dependence. The narrative situates her life within the broader context of African American community life and religious expectations while confronting the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health. Memoirs addressing alcoholism from the perspective of Black women remain relatively uncommon in the literature of the period, making the work a notable personal testimony within the history of addiction recovery narratives.

Allen, Chaney. I'm Black and I'm Drunk: The Autobiography of a Minister's Daughter and Her Struggle with the Disease of Alcoholism. San Diego: Black and Drunk, 1976. First edition. The text recounts Allen's upbringing in a religious household, the emotional conflicts she experienced as a young woman, and the development of alcohol dependency that shaped her adult life. Through autobiographical episodes she describes family tension, personal trauma, and the social isolation associated with addiction. Allen later became involved in advocacy addressing alcoholism in African American communities and participated in the development of public awareness initiatives related to substance abuse and recovery.

Publication of the book reflects the growth of community based activism and self published narratives addressing addiction and public health in the United States during the 1970s. Grassroots publications allowed individuals whose experiences were rarely represented in mainstream publishing to circulate personal testimony about addiction, recovery, and social conditions affecting marginalized communities. Perfect bound volume in original orange cardstock wrappers printed in black with halftone portrait of the author on the cover. Signed and inscribed on the half title "To Larry H., Thank you, Love, Chaney Allen." Minor shelf wear with faint vertical crease along the front joint and light rubbing to extremities; binding sound and interior text clean. Overall very good condition. The volume preserves a personal narrative addressing addiction and recovery within African American community life during the late twentieth century.