A Black Women's History of the United States

Starred review from January 1, 2020

This work by Berry (history, Univ. of Texas at Austin) and Gross (history, Rutgers Univ.) expands the ReVisioning American History series by Beacon Press. Each chapter begins with a story about a black woman's experience around a selected topic. As the authors flesh out the chapter with wide-ranging and deeply researched information, they weave the featured story into the narrative to illustrate the topic under discussion. Chapter topics include black women's presence in the Americas prior to the Atlantic slave trade, enslaved black women's rebellions and legal battles for their freedom, the formation of black women's organizations working for political and social justice, black women choosing to live outside the law and their carceral experiences, the Great Migration and black nationalism, and black women's roles in contemporary protest movements. Most stories are about women who were assigned female at birth, but some trans women's stories are included as well. VERDICT A substantial addition to popular history. Will likely be well-received by black women seeking better historical representation and by allies looking to educate themselves about black history.--Monica Howell, Northwestern Health Sciences Univ. Lib., Bloomington, MN

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2020
If history belongs to the winners, then it is no surprise that the voices of African American women have generally been ignored in accounts of U.S. history. Berry and Gross are determined to redress that injustice with this captivating, highly readable account. Rather than a straight textbook presentation, Berry and Ross convey the range of the Black female experience through the narratives of 11 mostly unknown women who either had a significant impact on American history or whose stories are emblematic of Black life at a certain historical moment. For example, they use the story of Belinda, who sued her enslaver's heirs for the freedom she had been promised, to introduce the many women who self liberated. Berry and Gross illuminate the long tradition of Black female resistance as they portray Patricia Okoumou, who was arrested in 2018 for scaling the Statue of Liberty to call attention to immigrant detention. As with all black women clapping back against power, as well as organizing against its corrupt and bigoted applications, Patricia spoke truth to it. A timely and much-needed restoration.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from November 15, 2019
A compact, exceptionally diverse introduction to the history of black women in America, rooted in "everyday heroism." As Berry (History/Univ. of Texas; The Price for Their Pound of Flesh: The Value of the Enslaved, From Womb to Grave, in the Building of a Nation, 2017, etc.) and Gross (History/Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick; Hannah Mary Tabbs and the Disembodied Torso: A Tale of Race, Sex and Violence in America, 2016, etc.) persuasively argue, black women have "significantly shaped" our nation--and fought for their rights--throughout every period of American history. Yet their contributions often have been overlooked or underappreciated. In the latest book in the publisher's ReVisioning American History series, the authors offer a selective but wide-ranging search-and-rescue mission for black female activists, trailblazers, and others who have left a mark. In the first chapter, they introduce Isabel de Olvera, who became one of the first black women to set foot on what is now American soil after joining an expedition from Mexico in the early 17th century. From there, Berry and Gross proceed chronologically, opening each chapter with a vignette about a signal figure such as Shirley Chisholm, the daughter of Caribbean immigrants who became the first black female member of Congress. Along the way, the authors frequently discuss members of traditionally underrepresented groups, among them the lesbian blues singer Gladys Bentley and the conjoined twins Millie and Christine McKoy, whose exploitation by mid-19th-century showmen suggests the perils faced by black women with disabilities. The result is a narrative that highlights both setbacks and achievements in many spheres--sports, business, education, the arts, military service, and more. While their overall approach is celebratory, Berry and Gross also deal frankly with morally complex topics, such as women who committed infanticide rather than see a child enslaved. Amid their gains, black women face enduring challenges that include police brutality and other forms of "misogynoir," or "gendered, anti-Black violence." For anyone hoping to topple the remaining barriers, this book is a font of inspiration. A vital book for any library or classroom--and for foot soldiers in the fight for racial justice.

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