9 Biographies by and About Black Women
Women’s History Month is coming to a close but that doesn’t mean that we need to stop recognizing just how amazing women are.
Our present and future are forged by our past. It’s powerful to revisit the paths that were laid down for us and to know that we are not forging ahead by ourselves but building on the foundations of our elders.
In a time where many of our hard-won rights are under threat, I want to take moment to reflect on the women who stood up against injustice, who forged lanes of equality, and whose legacy we stand on the shoulders of today.
Here’s my short list of 9 biographies by and about Black women that everyone should read. Of course, there are so many more stories that we should all read. Think of this as a starting point.
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BLACK WOMEN TAUGHT US: AN INTIMATE HISTORY OF BLACK FEMINIST
by Jenn M. Jackson
Jenn M. Jackson weaves personal memoir with an in-depth history of radical thinkers, honoring the Black women who laid the foundation for modern liberation. This literary tribute transforms a century of intellectual power into a vibrant roadmap for today’s justice seekers.
THE THREE MOTHERS: HOW THE MOTHERS OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., MALCOLM X, AND JAMES BALDWIN SHAPED A NATION
by Anna Malaika Tubbs
This triple bill uncovers the hidden legacies of Alberta King, Louise Little, and Berdis Baldwin - the women who nurtured the intellect and resilience of America’s greatest civil rights icons. It is a vital reclamation of history, proving that the fight for justice was sparked in the home long before their sons ever took the global stage.
ASSATA: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
by Assata Shakur
A raw and riveting testament to the struggle for Black liberation, charting Assata Shakur’s journey from revolutionary activist to hunted political exile. It is a powerful, unapologetic look at systemic injustice through the lens of a woman who refused to be silenced or broken.
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
by Angela Davis
A powerful, self-reflective account of a revolutionary's journey through the civil rights and Black liberation movements. It masterfully weaves Davis's personal fight for freedom with a profound critique of the systemic oppression and political struggles of 20th-century America.
THE REBELLIOUS LIFE OF MRS. ROSA PARKS
by Jeanne Theoharis
This biography shatters the "quiet seamstress" myth to reveal a fierce, lifelong radical who spent decades at the front lines of the Black Power movement. Jeanne Theoharis delivers a powerful portrait of a woman whose legendary defiance was not a tired accident, but a calculated, relentless strike against systemic injustice.
THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE: THE LIFE OF FANNIE LOU HAMER
by Kay Mills
A stirring tribute to the sharecropper who shook the foundations of American democracy with her voice, faith, and a refusal to stay silent. Kay Mills expertly captures Fannie Lou Hamer’s journey from the Mississippi fields to the national stage, proving that one "sick and tired" soul can change history.
IDA: A SWORD AMONG LIONS: IDA B. WELLS AND THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST LYNCHING
by Paula J. Giddings
Paula J. Giddings delivers a definitive, sweeping biography of the fearless journalist who risked everything to expose the systemic horrors of lynching in post-Reconstruction America. This masterful work captures Ida B. Wells’s indomitable spirit as she transformed from a crusading editor into a global icon for justice and civil rights.
FEARLESS AND FREE: A MEMOIR
by Josephine Baker
From dancing on the stages of the Roaring Twenties to running secret messages for the French Resistance, this intimate memoir brings the legendary Josephine Baker to life in her own words. It is a witty, passionate, and unapologetic self-portrait of an icon who broke every rule to live entirely on her own terms.
ON HER OWN GROUND: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MADAM C.J. WALKER
by A'Lelia Bundles
This inspiring biography chronicles the incredible rise of Madam C.J. Walker from the daughter of enslaved parents to America's first self-made female millionaire. Written by her great-great-granddaughter, it offers a deeply personal look at how Walker built a beauty empire while fighting for civil rights and philanthropy.