Though often consigned to the footnotes of history, African American women are a significant part of the rich, multiethnic heritage of Texas and the United States. Until now, though, their story has frequently been fragmented and underappreciated.""Black Women in Texas History"" draws together a multi-author narrative of the experiences and impact of black American women from the time of slavery until the recent past. Each chapter, written by an expert on the era, provides a readable survey and overview of the lives and roles of black Texas women during that period. Each provides careful documentation, which, along with the thorough bibliography compiled by the volume editors, will provide a starting point for others wanting to build on this important topic.The authors address significant questions about population demographics, employment patterns, family and social dimensions, legal and political rights, and individual accomplishments. They look not only at how African American women have been shaped by the larger culture but also at how these women have, in turn, affected the culture and history of Texas. This work situates African American women within the context of their times and offers a due appreciation and analysis of their lives and accomplishments.""Black Women in Texas History"" is an important addition to history and sociology curriculums as well as black studies and women's studies programs. It will provide for interested students, scholars, and general readers a comprehensive survey of the crucial role these women played in shaping the history of the Lone Star State.
Introduction: Black Texas Women: Making Community Angela Boswell; 1. Black Women during Slavery to 1865; James M. Smallwood and Barry A. Crouch; 2. Texas Freedwomen during Reconstruction, 1865-1874; Rebecca Sharpless; 3. ""Us Has Ever Lived De Useful Life"": African American Women in Texas, 1874-1900; Bruce A. Glasrud; 4. Time of Transition: Black Women in Early Twentieth-Century Texas, 1900-1930; Merline Pitre; 5. At the Crossroads: Black Texas Women, 1930-1954; Stefanie Decker; 6. African American Women in the Civil Rights Era, 1954-1974; Kenneth W. Howell and James M. Smallwood; 7. Expanded Opportunities: Black Women in the Modern Era, 1974-2000; Jewel L. Prestage and Franklin D. Jones; 8. Contemporary Black Texas Women: Political and Educational Leadership, 1974-2000; Bruce A. Glasrud and Merline Pitre.