Volume 8 | TRAILBLAZERS

TRAILBLAZERS Volume 1

ACTIVISM

Black Women Are the Foot Soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement

DANCE

The Black Body Beautiful

SPORTS

Black Women Breaking Barriers

In Volume 1, it is appropriate that the series opens with a focus on activists. Black women, who have always operated at the crossroads of gender, race, class, sexuality, and ability, have played a crucial role in social justice movements. Historically, they have fought on multiple fronts within abolitionist, suffragist, and feminist efforts. This volume revisits the importance of early activists such as Ella Baker, Pauli Murray, Rosina Tucker, and Clara Day, who stand for the countless unnamed women involved in the civil rights and labor movements. These women have consistently demonstrated that activism must be genuine and not merely performative. It demands a critical awareness of the world and a dedicated commitment to the cause, using available resources to improve conditions for all oppressed people. This is the path followed by contemporary activists like environmentalist Peggy Shepard and community organizer Kadiatou Diallo.

WOMEN FEATURED: Sojourner Truth (ca. 1797-1883); Harriet Tubman (1822-1913); Mary Church Terrell (1822-1913); Rosina Corrothers Tucker (1881-1987); Ella Baker (1903-1986); Maida Springer Kemp (1910-2005); Pauli Murray (1910-1985); Dorothy I. Height (1912-2010); Rosa Parks (1913-2005); Fannie Lou Hamer (1917-1977); Clara Day (1923-2015); Addie Wyatt (1924-2012); Coretta Scott King (1927-2006); Myrlie Evers-Williams (1933); Betty Shabazz (1934-1997); Diane Nash (1938); Peggy Shepard (1946); Pierrette “Petee” Talley (1956); Dorceta E. Taylor (1957); Kadiatou Diallo (1959); Michelle Alexander (1967); Glynda C. Carr (1972); Lezley McSpadden (1980); Leah Penniman (1980); Lasaia Wade (1987).

In Volume 1, it is fitting the series begins with activists. Black women, who have always functioned at the intersections of gender, race, class, sexuality, and ability, have played a vital role in social justice movements. Having historically fought on multiple fronts from the abolitionist, suffragist, and feminist movements, we revisit the significance of early activists like Ella Baker, Pauli Murray, Rosina Tucker, and Clara Day, who represent the hundreds of unnamed women who participated in the civil rights and labor movements. They have proven time, and again that activism cannot be performative. It requires a critical eye on our world and committing to the cause utilizing available resources to help make the world a better place for all oppressed people. It is the path modern-day activists like environmentalist Peggy Shepard and community activist Kadiatou Diallo have taken.

WOMEN FEATURED: Josephine Baker (1906-1975); Katherine Dunham (1909-2006); Margot Webb 1915–2005); Jeni Legon (1916-2012); Janet Collins (1917-2003); Pearl Primus (1919-1994); Mable Lee (1921-2019); Mary Hinkson (1930-2014); Joan Myers Brown (1931); Carmen De Lavallade (1931-2025); Raven Wilkinson (1935-2018); Judith Jamison (1943-2024); Blondell Cummings (1944-2015); Dianne Mcintyre (1946); Virginia Johnson (1950); Jawole Willa Jo Zollar (1950); Dianne Walker (1951); Debra Austin (1955); Cynthia Oliver (1961); Fatima Robinson (1971); Dormeshia (1976); Camille A Brown (1979); Misty Copeland (1982); Michaela Mabinty Deprince (1995-2024).

It may be hard to imagine now, but there was a time when women were barred from competing in sports. When women gained access, Black women faced even greater obstacles due to intersecting discrimination. Nevertheless, some Black women broke through these barriers, including the nearly forgotten tennis and basketball champion Ora Washington and Alice Coachman, the first Black woman to compete in and win at the Olympics. Their groundbreaking efforts opened doors for many others, such as Serena Williams, Allyson Felix, and Simone Biles, who have become some of the most decorated athletes in American history. Despite the burden of this racial legacy, they continue to challenge stereotypes and forge new paths in society.

WOMEN FEATURED: Ora Washington (1898-1971); Toni Stone (1921-1996); Alice Coachman (1923-2014); Althea Gibson (1927-2003); Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994); Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1962); Cheryl Miller (1964); Violet Palmer (1964); Debi Thomas (1967); Dawn Staley (1970); Briana Scurry (1971); Sheryl Swoopes (1971); Ann Wolfe (1971); Lisa Leslie (1972); Dominique Dawes (1976); Maritza Correia McClendon (1981); Serena Williams (1981); Allyson Felix (1985); Ibtihaj Muhammad (1985); Blake Bolden (1991); Bianca Smith (1991); Erin Jackson (1992); Simone Biles (1997).

Throughout this volume, David confronts socially ingrained assumptions, stereotypes, and false dichotomies that demean Black women’s bodies, especially in dance and sports, including perceptions about their hairstyles. In doing so, David explores Black womanhood in its entirety—physically, culturally, and politically.

“The first book in an anticipated six-volume set, TRAILBLAZERS is an inspiring, comprehensive work. With a multidisciplinary background in music, design, and poetry, David provides the model of activist scholarship that combines academic nuance and sophistication with an engaging writing style that is accessible to general readership, such as David’s essay that convincingly demonstrates how women served as the “foot soldiers” of the civil rights movement. Backed by impressive endnotes and references, each chapter is encyclopedic in breadth while offering fresh analytical insights into Black women who are well covered in the existing literature, like Rosa Parks. The choice to combine the topics of activism, dance, and sports makes for an eclectic collection . . . . Accompanied by dozens of stark, powerful black-and-white photographs and portraits, this is a visually arresting volume whose words match the power of its images. An exciting resource in a promising, thorough multivolume celebration of Black women."

—KIRKUS REVIEW