“Readers will cherish this accessible portrait of a lesser-known civil rights figure.”
—Publishers Weekly
“I entered Dorothy’s life when she became my speaking partner, and she was already a pioneer of community organizing in New York City. With Her Fist Raised begins with her family in rural Georgia, and with her vision and bravery in defying a life limited by racism or sexism. I can’t imagine any book that could tell you more about this country or about the human spirit.”
—Gloria Steinem
“With Her Fist Raised is a testament to the impact, diversity, and reach of African American women’s leadership and activism. Guided by Lovett’s careful and thorough research, this story of Dorothy Pitman Hughes’s life enhances the way we understand intersectional activism and social movements in the United States through her fight for civil rights, community empowerment, and childcare. She emerges from the shadow of Steinem as a force in her own right.”
—Francoise Hamlin, author of Crossroads at Clarksdale: The Black Freedom Struggle in the Mississippi Delta after World War II
Preface
Introduction
CHAPTER 1
The Ridleys: Growing Up in Georgia
CHAPTER 2
Finding Her Voice: Moving “Up South”
CHAPTER 3
Childcare, Community Care: Activism in New York City
CHAPTER 4
“Sisters Under the Skin”: Taking the Stage in the Women’s Movement
CHAPTER 5
“Racism with Roses”: Miss New York City and the Transition to Harlem
CHAPTER 6
Whose Empowerment?: Black Women’s Business and the Politics of Gentrification
EPILOGUE
Home Again
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Image Credits
Index
