Bury my heart in a free land : Black women intellectuals in modern U.S. history /

Even in today's world, black women intellectuals suffer multiple discrimination from the public at large as well as in academe. Put down by both white society and black males, the women in this collection devoted their professional activities to having their voices heard. In her introduction, editor Williams discusses the shameful lack of research and recognition on and about African American women intellectuals, offering solid and informative comments to each of the 14 selections. Beginning with African American feminist abolitionists, such as Maria Stewart and Sojourner Truth, and continuing to recently retired Michelle Howard, the first female four-star admiral, the subjects include distinguished academics, authors and poets, and social and political organizers. All the chapters have extensive notes and bibliography for further reference. While the majority of the essays are from historians, authors also include specialists from literature, American studies, and women's studies. The subjects are an eclectic mix, ranging from the well-known Ida B. Wells and Maya Angelou to the more obscure Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin and Wanda Coleman. The editor has been as inclusive as possible, though this reviewer would have enjoyed an essay on activist-author Bebe Moore Campbell (1950-2006). Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. --Duncan R. Jamieson, Ashland University

Black women have been historically closed out of some academic areas, but their impact resonates nonetheless, contends editor Williams (history & anthropology, Monmouth Coll.; coeditor, Race and the Obama Phenomenon). Here, 14 insightful, scholarly essays, arranged chronologically, provide context to (often lesser-known) African American intellectuals and their effects on U.S. social and academic culture. The book begins with a look at abolitionist writings in the 1800s and ends with Michelle Howard's 2014 promotion to U.S. Navy four-star admiral. VERDICT Consider for academic or large public libraries. © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.