Rebels in law : voices in history of Black women lawyers /

This book not only fills a gap in the history of American law--it undergirds contemporary efforts to form feminist jurisprudence and critical race theory. Presented are narratives by a wide army of black women lawyers--pioneers such as Lutie Lytle, Ollie May Cooper, and Pauli Murray, and present-day practitioners including Mary Francis Berry, Lani Guinier, and Marion Wright Edelman. While spanning over a century of legal work, these women are connected by their efforts to challenge, shape, and utilize the law by drawing on the dual experiences of being black and female. Smith (law, Howard Univ.) wisely allows these women to tell their own stories. He has assembled 62 articles (24 of them new here) and organized them under the topics of law's calling; the power of black women; legal education; presidents and judges; the themes of race, equality, justice, and freedom; criminal justice; and international concerns. Although the entries are individually interesting, the collection as a whole is riveting because it traces the transition of black women from being the objects of the law to actors in the law who have altered its practice and theory. Highly recommended for all collections. Includes useful appendixes and biographies of contributors. S. Behuniak; Le Moyne College