The Book of African-American Women: 150 Crusaders, Creators, and Uplifters

From the Dust Jacket

Right from the beginning, women of African descent have played an important and noteworthy role in the American experience. The Book of African-American Women explores the trials and tribulations, but most of all the accomplishments, of 150 women.

Some of these women are well known, while others will be a welcome addition to this emerging history. These are women who—knowingly or unknowingly changed every American’s destiny through their contributions as writers, artists, teachers, civic leaders, medical professionals, or entrepreneurs. And there are those who simply represent the collective black experience—from the days of slavery through abolition, the civil rights movement, and beyond.

Blending information and inspiration, author Tonya Bolden has assembled a truly unique collection of the lives of African-American women. With quotations from writings of and about many of these remarkable women, she presents an important new historical perspective. The elegance of her writing, and her ability to capture the essence of each individual woman’s life, make this an invaluable resource as well as a wonderful gift.

Among the subjects:

• Coincoin, slave turned plantation owner
• Annie Davis, “Pen pal” of Abraham Lincoln
• Nancy Prosser, co-leader of a slave revile
• Nancy Ruffin, 19th century homemaker
• Matilda Dunbar, Mother of Paul Laurence Dunbar
• Ida B. Wells, anti-lynching crusader
• Mary Church Terrell, “the genteel militant”
• Lucy Eddie Campbell, “Mother of Gospel Music”
• Jackie Ormes, Cartoonist
• Willa B. Brown, Aviator
• Roger Arliner Young, Zoologist
• Valaida Snow, “Trumpet Queen”
• Vera Jackson, photographer
• Lyda Moore Merrick, co-founder of Negro Braille Magazine
• Dorothy Dandridge, actress
• Evelyn Boyd Granville, mathematician
• Constance Baker Motley, lawyer and judge
• Samella Lewis, artist, art historian, and curator
• Jackie “Moms” Mabley, comedienne
• Shirley Chisholm, politician
• Norma Merrick Sklarek, architect
• Darlene Clark Hine, historian

352 pages
Hardcover | Adams Media | 1996 | ISBN: 1558506470 | MSRP: US$16
Paperback | F+W Publications | 2004 | ISBN: 1580629288 | MSRP: US$12.95