Washoe County Library System

Profiles notable African American women in various fields from Phillis Wheatley, Harriet Tubman, and Ida B. Wells to Condoleeza Rice, Beyoncé, and the founders of Black Lives Matter.

Biography of Martin Luther King's widow, from her childhood in rural Alabama to her crusade to keep her husband's message of peace and equality alive after his murder in 1968.

"Passing Strange" is a uniquely American biography of Clarence King, who hid a secret from his Gilded Age cohorts and prominent family: for 13 years he lived a double life--as the celebrated white explorer, geologist, and writer King and as a black Pullman porter and steelworker named James Todd.

"A chapter book biography of Florence Griffith Joyner, part of the She Persisted series. Florence Griffith Joyner, aka Flo Jo, who overcame many challenges to be considered the fastest woman of all time."--

"Born in 1940s Harlem, Patricia Bath dreamed of being a doctor--even though that wasn't a career option for most women. This biography follows Dr. Bath in her quest to become an ophthalmologist and restore sight to the blind. "Choosing miracles" when everyone else had given up hope, she invented a specialized laser for removing cataracts, becoming the first African American woman doctor to receive a medical patent"--

A biography of the African-American educator Mary McLeod Bethune, discussing her role in creating opportunities for African-Americans in education and government.

A cultural commentator presents this memoir-in-essays in which she provides a deeply personal, razor-sharp critique of white fragility, respectability politics, and all the places where fear masquerades as progress.

White Like Her: My Familys Story of Race and Racial Passing is the story of Gail Lukasiks mothers “passing,” Gails struggle with the shame of her mothers choice, and her subsequent journey of self-discovery and redemption. In the historical context of the Jim Crow South, Gail explores her mothers decision to pass, how she hid her secret even from her own husband, and the price she paid for choosing whiteness. Haunted by her mothers fear and shame,...

Introduces beginning readers to the life and accomplishments of the woman who led many African Americans to freedom on the Underground Railroad. "This book examines the life of Harriet Tubman in a simple, age-appropriate way that will help children develop word recognition and reading skills. Includes a timeline and other informative back matter"--

"Coretta Scott King is well known for being the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and for her own civil rights and world peace activism. She also received many awards and honorary degrees. But before she did all of those impressive things, Coretta was a strong little girl who could outclimb anyone in her neighborhood, was very close to her dad, and had a beautiful singing voice! Read all about how Coretta Scott King learned that if you work hard...