This book showcases the strong African American Women that worked so hard during the Civil Rights Movement It is sad that until I read this book, I did not know anything about these fierce women. Kudos to the author for bringing this book to us for our knowledge. A wonderful tribute to these strong women during a very trying time. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.

This is a seminal text on the role black women played in the civil rights movement. Most of the texts of the movement have been written about men this is based on women. This could be an excellent text for either a women’s studies or African American class. I recommend this text. I have already ordered my copy.

I loved this book. I could not put it down, for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it is a beautiful living history of so many women who did so much of the hard work to keep the movement going. That does not mean women like Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks are unimportant, it simply means that we are finally learning the names of so many other women who made great contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, who are often overlooked because they did the everyday grunt work, doing what needed to be done.

A second reason why I loved this book so much is that I teach in a school that is predominantly African American. Specifically I teach in a Behavior Skills classroom, which means my class size is smaller and comprised of students who have been diagnosed with an emotional disturbance, sometimes among other disorders as well. These students especially need to see others who look like them, achieving and being successful. I am a firm believer, and research supports this, that children need to see members of both their gender and their race in positions of success as role models, to see just what is possible for someone who looks like them to achieve. HERE is a great article from a couple years ago explaining some of the research. So when I have in my hands a book that showcases some very exceptional women, I know already that it will be useful in my classroom.

To ensure that I am doing what I can to pass on the names of these brave and inspirational woman, I want to list them before delving into the text a little further. Commit them to memory, and learn all you can. Their unique stories are endlessly fascinating not only as African Americans fighting for equal rights regardless of race, but as powerful women making their mark on the movement to show that gender would also not be a factor in holding anyone back. Female leadership was key and it is about time that these women, and I'm sure countless others, were given their due recognition:

Aileen Hernandez

Diane Nash

Gloria Richardson

Leah Chase

Myrlie Evers

Judy Richardson

Dr. June Jackson Christmas

Gay McDougall

Kathleen Cleaver

The author chose these nine women whose experiences in that turbulent time are remarkable for both how similar and different they were. Most of the women are in their 90s now, and to read their stories felt like I was there, part of the conversation. The events they described were so vivid, the fear and the exhilaration all at once, I felt it as I read every single word. Each voice was clear and authentic, it did not feel like the same person speaking, over and over.

I have read my fair share of history told in this format and compiling an oral history seems easy enough on the surface: interview some people and record exactly what they say. Easy, no? Well, not really. The Civil Rights Movement was so huge, with so many working parts, sometimes trying to get everyone to work together so that the movement would 'keep moving' so to speak, could be difficult. The same goes for attempts at oral histories. The parts of the whole have to flow to keep the narrative moving. I think the author has done a fantastic job in piecing together this important history. For me personally there were no lulls, or places where I wished the stories were longer or shorter. It flows well, even as we are given such widely varying perspectives of the time. Though their accomplishments were not the same, the impact of their hard work and dedication will still be felt for many years to come.

Hopefully you have heard of Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Diane Nash. Besides them, how many other females who played a part in the Civil Rights Movement can you name?


Do you know Leah Chase?
How about Dr. June Jackson Christmas?
Aileen Hernandez?
Judy Richardson?
Kathleen Cleaver?
Gay McDougall?
Gloria Richardson?
Myrlie Evers?

If you are interested in the Civil Rights Movement, you owe it to these women to know their names and share their stories.

This book provided insight into African American women that were a part of the Civil Rights Movement that I had never heard of. Everyone has heard of Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks, but what about Aileen Hernandez or Judy Richardson? The nine women portrayed in this book played such an important part to our history, but their names are not well known. I recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about this important chapter in history and of the role these women played.

I have several classes that are currently studying and completing projects about Civil Rights and other Social Movements. I do think that many of those students would consult LIGHTING THE FIRES OF FREEDOM since it focuses primarily on oral history and first person interviews with nine African American women (e.g., Myrlie Evers, widow of Medgar Evers; Diane Nash of the SNCC) who were active in the Movement. However, it seems to have been archived earlier than originally expected and I unfortunately missed the opportunity to view the pre-publication copy. Therefore, I am giving this book a neutral 3 star review although I am seriously considering ordering it.

APRIL 22, 2018 IN BOOK REVIEWS, ORAL HISTORY
Lighting the Fires of Freedom by Janet Dewart Bell is a collection of oral histories recorded either in person or over the phone of 9 African American women whose involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, and whose accomplishments beyond that were both important and notable. However we rarely, if ever, hear their names mentioned nowadays. Janet Dewart Bell shines a necessary light on these women, on their accomplishments and contributions to the movement and to society, and on the ongoing work they have done through their lives. Lighting the Fires of Freedom gives us the voices of Leah Chase, Dr June Jackson Christmas, Aileen Clarke Hernandez, Diane Nash, Judy Richardson, Kathleen Cleaver, Gay McDougall, Gloria Richardson, and Myrlie Evers.

I’ve made it a priority this year to read as diverse as possible, and also as close to the source as possible. I jumped on this book as soon as I saw it as there is so much more to the civil rights movement and beyond that we never hear about. Women, especially African American women seem to be erased from the history they helped create (we never hear about Rosa Park’s activism before the famous bus incident for example), so this book is a much needed, and extremely important read.

I love how Janet Dewart Bell makes sure each of the women’s voices is rendered correctly in her own words. It honestly feels as if you can hear them speak, their tone and way of speaking is very clear in the narrative. Oral histories are not always easy to read, and some of them flow more easily than others. I also loved how each narrative encompasses the global theme of leadership in the civil rights movement, and how important women were in keeping the movement actually moving.

I have only lived in the US for about 14 years, but still, I feel like I should have known about at least a few of these women before I read this book. Some of these women are now in their 90’s (Aileen Hernandez passed away last year at 90), and their collective and individual contributions are amazing. They are honestly a real inspiration, and I am going to be researching all of them to learn as much as I can about them.

Lighting the Fires of Freedom is inspiring and full of strength, purpose, drive, and leadership. It will be published on May 8, 2018 by The New Press. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance copy!

Fifty years ago the Civil Rights Act of 1968 was signed into law.

Most know the name, legacy, and speeches of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King.

And most have heard of his wife Coretta Scott King and activist Rosa Parks. But what about the countless other women involved with the Civil Rights Movement? Those who did the grunt work, who put their lives on the line, who strove to achieve what the culture said they could not do?

When I made my quilt I Will Lift My Voice Like a Trumpet I was inspired by the Abolitionists and Civil Rights who I encountered in reading Freedom's Daughters by Lynne Olson. My embroidered quilt includes an image and quote from women who made a difference but are not well known. The quilt appeared in several American Quilt Society juried shows.

When I saw Lighting the Fires of Freedom: African American Women and the Civil Rights Movement by Janet Dewart Bell on NetGalley I quickly requested it. I was interested in meeting more of these courageous, but lesser-known women.

The author interviewed and collected oral histories of nine women for this book:

Leah Chase, whose restaurant was a meeting place for organizers, was a collector of African American art and was commemorated by Pope Benedict XVI for her service.
Dr. June Jackson Christmas broke race barriers to gain admittance to Vassar, spoke out against the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, was the only black female student in her medical school class, and fought housing discrimination to change New York City Law.
Aileen Hernandez became an activist at Howard University in the 1940s, was the first female and black to serve on the EEOC in 1964, and was the first African American president of NOW.
Diane Nash chaired the Nashville Sit-In Movement and coordinated important Freedom Rides.
Judy Richardson joined the Students for a Democratic Society at Swarthmore College before leaving to join SNCC. She founded a bookstore and press for publishing and promoting black literature and was an associate producer for the acclaimed PBS series Eyes on the Prize.
Kathleen Cleaver was active in SNCC, the Black Power Movement, the Black Panthers, and the Revolutionary People's Communication Network.
Gay McDougall was the first to integrate Agnes Scott College; she worked for international human rights and was recognized with a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship.
Gloria Richardson was an older adult during the movement, with a militant edge; Ebony magazine called her the Lady General of Civil Rights.
Myrlie Evers's husband Medgar was the first NAACP field secretary in Mississippi. She was officially a secretary, but she 'did everything' and later championed gender equality.

I was familiar with Diane Nash, who appears on my quilt. I only knew Myrlie Evers-Williams by association to her martyred husband Medgar.

For me, Evers' statement was most moving, revealing more about her emotional life and feelings. Her husband Medgar, a war veteran, was the first African American to apply to Ole Miss when he was recruited to work for the NAACP.

Myrlie organized events, researched for speeches, and even wrote some speeches while raising their family and welcoming visitors such as Thurgood Marshall to her home for dinner. It was a lot for a young woman. She is quoted as saying,

"It was an exciting but frightening time, because you stared at death every day...But there was always hope, and there were always people who surrounded you to give you a sense of purpose."

Medgar knew he was a target and encouraged her to believe in her strength.

After her husband was murdered in front of their own home, the NAACP would call on her to rally support and raise money, with no compensation. Meanwhile, she felt anger and outrage at what had happened. Medgar had dreamt about relocating to California some day, so Myrlie and her children moved.

Thinking back on the movement, Myrlie recognizes the struggle women had to be recognized for their work. And she bristles at being pigeonholed as Medgar's widow instead of being recognized for her accomplishments. It is wonderful that Myrlie was asked to deliver the prayer before President Obama's inaugural address.

Faith and trust and believe she ends, possibilities await. Be open. Be adventurous. Have a little fun.

That is good advice to us all. But coming from a woman whose husband made the ultimate sacrifice, it is an affirmation of great importance.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

I love how this book sheds light on strong black women who fought for social justice and in their own way, contributed to the civil rights movement in America. These are women whose stories we've barely heard of, yet they exude such strength, wisdom and character. Thank you NetGalley for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest take on it. There's nothing as exhilarating as knowing more about history and those who shaped it.