The Portable Nineteenth-Century African American Women Writers

Edited by Hollis Robbins and Henry Louis Gates,Jr; this collection comprises work from forty-nine writers arranged into sections of memoirpoetry and essays on feminismeducation and the legacy of black women writers. Many of these pieces engage with social movements like abolitionwomen’s suffragetemperance and civil rightsbut the thematic centre is black women’s intellect and personal ambition. The diverse selection includes well-known writers like Sojourner TruthHannah Crafts and Harriet Jacobsas well as lesser-known writers like Ella Sheppardwho offers a firsthand account of life in a world-famous singing group. Taken togetherthese incredible works insist that the writing of black women writers be readremembered and addressed.