They Carried Us: The Social Impact of Philadelphia's Black Women Leaders

About this book

Meet some of Philadelphias fiercest black women leaders. They range from the first black woman known to be born in Philadelphia (1694)who ran a ferry business during colonial timesto the woman whose childhood experiences led her to become a surgeon and medical advisor to celebrities. All of the women bring it as activists in community and movement work business and civic institutions education churches medicine government journalism sports and the arts. And they have had larger-than-life impact on the city. Historical research and original interviews of contemporary women squarely place Philadelphias black women on centerstage. The authors document that many of them worked together directly. Others drew inspiration from those who came before. Their power came not just from what they did as individuals but from how their efforts snowballed into a Philadelphia community of women that spanned geographies sectors and time. The authors experiences as activists researchers and educatorsand their own circumstances of frequently being "the only black women in the roomfill the book not just with facts but with genuine empathy. These are the inspiring stories of black women in one of the countrys most important cities who let no obstacle deter them from changing the game.