Florynce “Flo” Kennedy: The Life of a Black Feminist Radical
The Life of a Black Feminist Radical
by Sherie M. Randolph
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Pub Date Oct 05 2015 | Archive Date Jan 06 2016
Description
Often photographed in a cowboy hat with her middle finger held defiantly in the air, Florynce "Flo" Kennedy (1916–2000) left a vibrant legacy as a leader of the Black Power and feminist movements. In the first biography of Kennedy, Sherie M. Randolph traces the life and political influence of this strikingly bold and controversial radical activist. Rather than simply reacting to the predominantly white feminist movement, Kennedy brought the lessons of Black Power to white feminism and built bridges in the struggles against racism and sexism. Randolph narrates Kennedy’s progressive upbringing, her pathbreaking graduation from Columbia Law School, and her long career as a media-savvy activist, showing how Kennedy rose to founding roles in organizations such as the National Black Feminist Organization and the National Organization for Women, allying herself with both white and black activists such as Adam Clayton Powell, H. Rap Brown, Betty Friedan, and Shirley Chisholm.
Making use of an extensive and previously uncollected archive, Randolph demonstrates profound connections within the histories of the new left, civil rights, Black Power, and feminism, showing that black feminism was pivotal in shaping postwar U.S. liberation movements.
A Note From the Publisher
This is uncorrected page proof of a book that will be published in October 2015. Please do not quote directly from the proof in a review without first checking the quote against the finished book.
Advance Praise
"Florynce Kennedy is one of the founders of modern feminism, yet too few people now know her spirit and words, her courageous and outrageous example. I was lucky to have her as a teacher and friend. You will be, too, once you meet her in the pages of Sherie M. Randolph's welcome and important biography."—Gloria Steinem
"Florynce "Flo" Kennedy absolutely shatters any notion that African American women came to feminism after white women. Sherie M. Randolph’s biography of Flo Kennedy forces us to rethink civil rights, Black Power, and feminist history. A fascinating and revolutionary book."—Annelise Orleck, Dartmouth College, author of Common Sense and a Little Fire
"A tour de force: thoroughly researched, well-written, and compelling. Randolph's analysis of the life of the flamboyant and fierce Flo Kennedy challenges many popular notions about both the Black Power and the women's movements."—Barbara Ransby, author of Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement
Marketing Plan
Publicity
• Advance Readers Copies available
• Major print reviews and features
• Online publicity campaign
National Advertising
• New York Review of Books, and American history publications
Co-op Available
Publicity
• Advance Readers Copies available
• Major print reviews and features
• Online publicity campaign
National Advertising
• New York Review of Books, and American history publications
Co-op Available
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781469623917 |
| PRICE | $30.00 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Gail M, Reviewer
I've got a new hero (not only feminist, but a fierce warrior against all forms of discrimination), and she doesn't look anything like me. I had never heard of her before reading this book, in fact (a symptom of a significant problem in itself.) She reminds me of a black Molly Ivins, although she predated her by several years. (Perhaps I should say Molly Ivins resembled a white Flo Kennedy). In any event, this is a must-read.
The author, Sherie Randolph, worked with Kennedy's remaining papers - much had been destroyed for various reasons - but there was enough to craft an in-depth biography of a remarkable woman (a lawyer by training) who fought for justice during the 1960s and '70s against insane odds. I haven't heard "Black Lives Matter" activists mention her, although they're on the same page.
Highly recommended.
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