Black Texas Women: 150 Years of Trial and Triumph

Book info: Black Texas Women: 150 Years of Trial and Triumph (Paperback, 448 pages) – University of Texas Press, 1995. Language: English.

Women of all colors have shaped families, communities, institutions, and societies throughout history, but only in recent decades have their contributions been widely recognized, described, and celebrated. This book presents the first comprehensive history of black Texas women, a previously neglected group whose 150 years of continued struggle and some successes against the oppression of racism and sexism deserve to be better known and understood.

Beginning with slave and free women of color during the Texas colonial period and concluding with contemporary women who serve in the Texas legislature and the United States Congress, Ruthe Winegarten organizes her history both chronologically and topically. Her narrative sparkles with the life stories of individual women and their contributions to the work force, education, religion, the club movement, community building, politics, civil rights, and culture. The product of extensive archival and oral research and illustrated with over 200 photographs, this groundbreaking work will be equally appealing to general readers and to scholars of women's history, black history, American studies, and Texas history.

Review Black Texas Women is an inspiring introduction to the struggles and accomplishments of black women in Texas since the days of the Republic.... It is through the work of Ruthe Winegarten and others like her that scarce and scattered records are being uncovered, preserved, and protected. ― Texas Books in Review

Occasionally a book comes along that is monumental in scope, overwhelming in amount of research, and so powerful in its impact as to be categorized at once as a lasting contribution to our knowledge of humankind. Black Texas Women is one of those rare books.... Highly recommended. ― Journal of American History

Occasionally a book comes along that is monumental in scope, overwhelming in amount of research, and so powerful in its impact as to be categorized at once as a lasting contribution to our knowledge of humankind. Black Texas Women is one of those rare books.... Highly recommended. ― Review of Texas Books

Winegarten, a prolific and competent independent scholar of Texas history, enriches understanding of the Lone Star State with this long-needed and well-done study of the African American women of Texas, from the Spanish colonial era to the present. ― Choice About the Author The late Ruthe Winegarten, an independent scholar, has written, coauthored, and edited numerous books.