Black women are the often unsung "sheroes" who make immeasurable contributions to America's democracy, institutions, families and communities, all while facing the double bind of sexism and racism. In her compelling, thoughtful fourth book, Black Women Will Save the World, veteran White House reporter April Ryan--herself a trailblazing Black woman--champions the accomplishments of Black female leaders like Fannie Lou Hamer, Maxine Waters, Vice President Kamala Harris and the cofounders of Black Lives Matter. In powerful, insightful prose, Ryan shows readers why the accomplishments of Black women matter now more than ever.
Ryan (Under Fire; At Mama's Knee) shares some of her own story: as a working-class native of Baltimore, a proud graduate of a historically Black college and a single mother, she is an anomaly in the White House press corps for various reasons. But she is proud of her roots and is teaching her daughters to stand strong in their own identities. She also shares vital historical information about Black women activists and organizers: familiar names like Rosa Parks, yes, but other women, such as Mary Ann Shadd Cary and Nannie Helen Burroughs, whose work has often been ignored.
Ryan emphasizes, repeatedly, the price Black women pay for being first in a space, for being the smartest or most accomplished in the room, for excelling in a society that is explicitly not built for them. Ryan calls on all Americans to listen to, respect and celebrate Black women. Her book is an important step forward in that conversation. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams