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