100 Black Women Who Shaped America: Their Legacy

Gr 7 Up–This thorough compilation of profiles of influential Black women in the United States highlights well-covered subjects, such as Harriet Tubman, Serena Williams, and Michelle Obama, but also shines a light on women who have not always been recognized for their notable “firsts” and lives. For example, Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman was among the first slaves in Massachusetts to successfully sue for her freedom in 1781. Sheila Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, was the first African American woman to become a billionaire. Ursula Burns was the first Black woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company as head of Xerox in 2009. These figures and many more are profiled in two to four pages, accompanied by a related photo. They are split into nine chapters, each one covering a specific topic, such as “Abolition and Suffrage” and “Literature and Journalism.” A range of women across class, sexuality, and skin tone are presented here. These life stories are engagingly written, and every one of them ­deserves their own volume. Starks says in the intro: “American history, however, has been rewritten to downplay the roles of some and erase the contributions of others. Many Black women achieved levels of success that should have made them household names rather than footnotes in history books.” The entries are accessible and concisely summarize the many accomplishments of the featured women. A time line is part of the front matter: back matter includes an index and extensive bibliography.