Freedom's Daughters: The Unsung Heroines of the Civil Rights Movement from 1830 to 1970

Everywhere we go and everywhere we look, we are surrounded by males in history. All my life I search and search and search in vain for signs of women in history or social movements. Sure, we all know about women like Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman. But do we all know about women like Joann Robinson? There probably wouldn't even have been a Montgomery bus boycott, which helped Dr. Martin Luther King, rise to fame if it wouldn't have been for Ms. Robinson and the Women's Political Council. Those women were the unsung heroines of that movement and this book teaches you a little about it. At first I was struggling with the author's style of jumping around sometimes and then I read the book twice. You learn about so many women in the civil rights movements and also the abolitionist movement. You learn about black and also white women. You learn about the historical dynamics that slavery and racism caused between black and white women. You'll hear about women like Pauli Murray or Ida B Wells and other women who desegregated public spaces way before Rosa Parks did it. I have learned about so many women (and there is some info about men as it intersects with the topics) and it helped me springboard into other readings by or about them. I highly recommend this book! Enjoy.

This is one of the better books that I have read on the Civil Rights movement in the United States. The perspective taken is that of the heretofore briefly mentioned female contributions and leadership to the cause. One hears much of Dr. King and others, this book revealed the blatant sexism with which the women had to contend in order to achieve their goals. It was a surprise to learn that so many of the most esteemed male leaders were so unenlightened when it came to women's participation in the movement. Just as African Americans were fighting the fight of their lives to achieve equality,the women of the movement were fighting a battle upon 2 fronts - racism and sexism.It is remarkable to read the descriptions of the various women, their competency is unquestioned, without them much less would have been achieved. One is left with the feeling of sadness that so much brilliance and talent was put-down and brushed aside by the male members of the Civil Rights Movement. These women should have been every bit as well known as Abernathy, King and the rest. There are many mentions of women who were crucial to the movement who have receded into the mists of time. This is a shame.This is one of the very best books that I have read of the struggles and achievements of the Civil Rights movement. I recommend this book most highly to all. In particular to those interested in the struggles inherent in the fight for not only the rights of African-Americans, but also for the rights of all women, everywhere.

This is a great book. This is especially valuable for a white male to consume. The text is very reasonably written, for our enjoyment. This author takes us into the world of struggle of the Negro woman. We discover the power and support of the Negro woman. We experience her development and watch her lead her race up and into the Civil Rights Act. We feel her quiet yet feminine determined development form the beginnings of the American woman's rights movement. This text very arguably allows me to experience an unsaid belief, no truth, that possibly the Negro woman is at least fifty percent responsible for the equality consciousness of her race. Her activity and determination has enlightened others to realize the equal concepts of all races. The Negro woman's demographic is the greatest participant forwarding the woman's movement today. Without the courage of the Negro woman, the white male (me), would still be the superior in the social, economic(?) and political(?) American free world. I will reread this again and never release it from my ownership.ChangeItOrDrownItB 36 Ears

FREEDOM'S DAUGHTERS IS AN AMAZING NON FICTION BOOK. I AM 84 AND NOW REALIZE HOW MUCH I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT OUR COUNTRY'S QUIET PAST. I DID KNOW ABOUT ROSA PARKS AND THAT THERE WERE OTHERS BUT I AM ASTOUNDED TO LEARN HOW MUCH ELSE WAS GOING ON. BEING A NORTHERNER I KNEW FROM HISTORY BOOKS ABOUT THE AWFUL INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY BUT I TRULY DID NOT KNOW HOW EXTENSIVE IT WAS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH AND NORTH AT TIMES. ALSO. IT WAS ACCEPTED SO FEW GAVE IT MUCH THOUGHT AS TO ITS HORRIBLE SIDE- NOT ONLY THE WORK THAT WAS BEATEN INTO THE SLAVES- BUT THE DAY TO DAY DEGRADATION OF THE DAILY LIVES, ESPECIALLY SEXUAL.THIS IS A MUST EYE OPENING BOOK FOR SLAVERY STILL HAS ITS FINGERS INTO OUR LIVES-. HOW MANY STILL WORK IN WELL BELOW STANDARDS AND HOURS. READ IT. WE DID WELL BUT STILL HAVE FAR TO GO IN SEEING THAT ALL AMERICANS CAN CHEER OUR STANDARDS.

This history may be the best one written about the Civil Rights Movement.It certainly affords the reader a special perspective correcting the imbalance in others. The events unfold, the characters reveal themselves, and the politics astound in an intertwined masterful way. For those who were there, this study should be a great reminder (like Circle of Trust).For those who are too young to have any direct memories, this book should inspire hope, commitment, and new activity.

Loved this book. If you want to know about the struggle for women's rights and black american's and the trials they endured. this is the book to read.

this book has a lot of rich history that high school textbooks do not uncover. the condition of the book was mint and the price it sold to me for was good as well.

Not written by someone who experienced the civil rights movement as a 'daughter' but a very good analysis of the climate and the historical attitudes that created the barriers between races.

I am so happy to have found this book. I thought I had a fairly good understanding of the American civil rights movement but after reading this book, it feels like the pieces have been connected. The biggest contribution this book makes, in my opinion, is dispelling the myth that a lot of the male leaders were independent, for the most part, in the organization of the movement. Olson shows how the movement's gains were due to the women who were fearless and passionate in their search for justice.I feel truly inspired by all these brave and remarkable women Olson described and it is a shame they are not well known, even among people interested in this topic.

A worthy piece of writing One for the bookshelf rather than a holiday read