Black women in America: a historical encyclopedia;
Darlene Clark Hine, editor. Brooklyn, New York: Carlson Publishing, Inc., 1993.
Each of the articles in this two volume encyclopedia are signed and include a bibliography.
Evans, Sara M.
Born for liberty: a history of women in America.
New York: The Free Press, 1989.
This is a comprehensive history of American women that includes all the women in this unit of study. It is a good initial source.
Gates, Henry Louis Jr.
Bearing witness: selections from African-American autobiography in the twentieth century.
New York: Pantheon Books, 1991.
There is a selection from Mary Church Terrell’s autobiography.
Gloria Naylor: critical perspectives past and present.
New York: Amistad, 1993.
Naylor’s novels present contemporary black society in all its complexities.
This collection of critical essays examines themes of relations among women, of female friendship, sisterhood, and community.
Giddings, Paula.
When and where I enter: the impact of black women on race and sex in America.
New York: Bantam Books, 1984.
If you are looking for a wealth of little known facts, this is a great resource. The section on the Montgomery Bus Boycott includes information that Rosa Parks doesn’t include in her autobiography nor does JoAnn Gibson Robinson discuss in her memoirs.
Hine, Darlene Clark.
Hine sight: black women and the re-construction of of American history.
Bloomington: Indiana University, 1994.
Black women’s history, particularly that of working women is explored through fourteen essays.
In praise of our fathers and mothers: a black family treasury by outstanding
authors and artists
. complied by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson. East Orange, New Jersey: Just Us Books, Inc., 1997.
Over forty artists and authors have contributed pieces on the African American family. Each entry reflects the authors’ and artists’ unique style. The short biographical entries with photographs of the contributors at the end of the book could be useful.
Myers, Walter Dean.
Now is your time! : the African-American struggle for freedom.
New York: Harper Trophy, 1991.
This 292 page history could be used by middle or high school students but it might overwhelm elementary students. Elementary teachers will definitely find prose and pictures that would enrich a class project.
Murray, Pauli.
Song in a weary throat: an American pilgrimage.
New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1987.
An autobiography of a black American lawyer, poet, scholar, author, educator, administrator, religious leader, civil rights and women’s movement activist who lived from 1910 to 1985 is well documented.
Parks, Rosa.
My story
. New York: Dial Books, 1992.
Jim Haskins writes with Rosa Parks producing a very readable account of her life. Middle and high school students could easily read this.
Robinson, JoAnn Gibson.
The Montgomery bus boycott and the women who
started it: the memoir of JoAnn Gibson Robinson
. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1987.
This is an excellent insider’s view of the Montgomery bus boycott.
Roosevelt, Eleanor and Lorena A. Hickok.
Ladies of courage
. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1954.
Women need to get involved in politics is the underlying theme of this work. The historical material on the suffrage movement and the women who became involved in politics could be useful.
Terrell, Mary Church.
A colored woman in a white world
. New York: G. K. Hall & Co., 1996.
Terrell’s autobiography was originally published in 1940.
