Shirley Chisholm

"When my daughter announced to her 4th grade teachers that she wanted to study Shirley Chisholm for her Women's History Month project, they responded by saying, 'who?' Their response is indicative of the nearly complete erasure of this extraordinary woman from our shared political cannon. This text rushes in to fill the unconscionable void where knowledge of Shirley Chisholm should reside. Resisting the seduction of rendering Chisholm as an exclusively heroic figure, Barbara Winslow insists on delving into the complex, multi-layered, and deeply human reality of Shirley Chisholm. Winslow then tells a story we must know if we are to understand our own political moment. One in which a reelected black president governs alongside a Democratic Congressional delegation composed of a majority of women and racial minorities who were voted into office by an interracial coalition of voters led by women of color. This reality is quite literally unimaginable in the absence of Chisholm's trailblazing political career. This is a book that should have been written three decades ago, but now that it is here, it is required reading for all who claim to know American political history." -Melissa Harris-Perry, Director, Anna Julia Cooper Project on Gender, Race and Politics in the South Tulane University and Host of MSNBC's "Melissa Harris-Perry" "Just what any professor wants: books that will intrigue, inform, and fascinate students! These short, readable biographies of American women-specifically designed for classroom use-give instructors an appealing new option to assign to their history students." -Mary Beth Norton, Mary Donlon Alger Professor of American History, Cornell University "For educators keen to include women in the American story, but hampered by the lack of thoughtful, concise scholarship, here comes 'Lives of American Women,' embracing Abigail Adams's counsel to John-'remember the ladies.' And high time, too!" -Lesley S. Herrmann, Executive Director, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History "These books are, above all, fascinating stories that will engage and inspire readers. They offer a glimpse into the lives of key women in history who either defied tradition or who successfully maneuvered in a man's world to make an impact. The stories of these vital contributors to American history deliver just the right formula for instructors looking to provide a more complicated and nuanced view of history." -Rosanne Lichatin, 2005 Gilder Lehrman Preserve America History Teacher of the Year "Winslow's synthesis and attention to race, class, and gender dynamics makes it an excellent introduction to a woman who prided herself on being 'unbossed and unbought.'...Chisholm understood that politics is never a spectator sport; Winslow reminds us that we ignore it at our peril." -Truthout "Winslow offers a valuable perspective on a woman who faced challenges of race and sex as she pushed the agenda for social justice in her long political career." -Booklist Praise for the Lives of American Women series: "Finally! The majority of students-by which I mean women-will have the opportunity to read biographies of women from our nation's past. (Men can read them too, of course!) The 'Lives of American Women' series features an eclectic collection of books, readily accessible to students who will be able to see the contributions of women in many fields over the course of our history. Long overdue, these books will be a valuable resource for teachers, students, and the public at large." -Cokie Roberts, author of Founding Mothers and Ladies of Liberty