African American Women Writers (Black Stars) - Hardcover

Brenda Wilkinson, an acclaimed African American writer herself, brings these powerful, intelligent women to life. On these pages, you’ll meet twenty-four African American women writers whose stories and ideas helped to make American literature great. From colonial times to modern times, discover the accomplishments of these women of distinction. Learn how:

Sojourner Truth, a former slave, electrified the abolitionist and women’s rights movements. Her speech "Ain’t I a Woman?" stunned listeners with its honesty.

Frances E. W. Harper, orphaned at the age of three, grew up to write the bestselling novel by an African American in the Civil War and Reconstruction era.

Jessie Redmon Fauset, after studying French in Paris, returned to Harlem in New York City. Working with W. E. B. Du Bois, she edited The Brownies’ Book, a popular magazine for African American children.

Ann Petry, writing about black family life in the North, became the first African American author to sell a million copies of a book. She started her career as a reporter for a black newspaper.

Maya Angelou, author of the heartfelt memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, wrote a poem for President Bill Clinton’s inauguration–a first for an African American and a woman.

This comprehensive collection tells the stories of these and other fascinating and surprising women writers who made their dreams a reality.