The Suffragist Playbook: Your Guide to Changing the World

by Nine Secrets of the Suffrage Movement You Can Use to Change the World! Lucinda Robb, Rebecca Boggs Roberts

Do you have a cause you’re passionate about? Take a few tips from the suffragists, who led one of the largest and longest movements in American history. The women’s suffrage movement was decades in the making and came with many harsh setbacks. But it resulted in a permanent women’s right to vote. How did the suffragists do it? One hundred years later, an eye-opening look at their playbook shows that some of their strategies seem oddly familiar. Women’s marches at inauguration time? Check. Publicity stunts, optics, and influencers? They practically invented them. Petitions, lobbying, speeches, raising money, and writing articles? All of that, too.From moments of inspiration to some of the movement’s darker aspects—including the racism of some suffragist leaders, violence against picketers, and hunger strikes in jail—this International Literacy Association Young Adult Book Award winner takes a clear-eyed view of the role of key Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frances Willard, Ida B. Wells, Alice Paul, and many more. Engagingly narrated by Lucinda Robb and Rebecca Boggs Roberts, whose friendship goes back generations (to their grandmothers, Lady Bird Johnson and Lindy Boggs, and their mothers, Lynda Robb and Cokie Roberts), this unique melding of seminal history and smart tactics is sure to capture the attention of activists-in-the-making today.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Feminism, Politics

93 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2020

Reviews

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit I am pleasantly surprised how much I like the book. I don't remember adding it to our last library order but I'm glad we did because it's not a perfect blend of writing voice with historical perspective in our contemporary world.

Speaking to women specifically, but it doesn't necessarily limit the audience intentionally, the playbook explains the things we could do to change the world using these subheadings with a jazzy highlight and then explains how the present connects to the past as it relates to women's suffrage.

There are some truth bombs in there about racism, the temperance movement, documenting history (when often it was oratorical skills during these speeches that weren't written down and/or published which relies on either the speaker writing it down and sharing or a listener "remembering"- this was a specific example about a passionate speech by Soujourner Truth). It's a tiny book, written like a little playbook without the fanfare of images which is surprising but unnecessary because the information is clear cut and full of voice.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic read about strong women in history and what you can do to make your own place in history. Written in a relatable way, this book tells the stories of strong, historical women in history and the trials and tribulations they faced. It also gives very insightful information about forging your own path in women's history.

[Pine Reads Review]

“Before you can change the world, you have to start by telling your story. You can’t wait to be invited; you have to be brave and put yourself out there. Make your stories personal so that you can connect with your audience. Be prepared for things to get exaggerated along the way (which they will). That doesn’t mean your story is over, so keep talking.”

Most of us have probably heard of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton in the often glossed-over and extremely whitewashed high school history lessons on women’s suffrage. The Suffragist Playbook: Your Guide to Changing the World offers a brief history of women’s suffrage through the work of not only the relatively well-known white suffragists, but also powerful women of color like Sojourner Truth. A century in the future, this glimpse into the past shows the long, hard battle they fought against misogyny and the patriarchy. By showcasing what happened beyond the marches and picketing, Lucinda Robb and Rebecca Boggs Roberts accentuate the fact that suffragists wrote articles, raised money, went on hunger strikes, and spoke out against their family members to achieve their goals: the rights of women to vote and have personal freedom outside of the bounds of marriage in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Robb and Roberts highlight not only historical moments of victory, but also the darker elements of innate racism among prominent white suffragists and instances of extreme violence against picketers. Through brief glimpses into the lives of suffragists such as Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul, Lucy Stone, and several more, the steps required for activism fall into simple categories: like telling your story, making it personal, setting a goal you wish to achieve, and never giving up until you get your point across. The engaging narratives of Robb and Roberts, whose families have been friends for several generations, as well as the combination of historical fact and actual suffragist tactics exemplify how to be an empowered activist and ally today.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

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[Hil · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Suffragist Playbook: Your Guide to Changing the World by Lucinda Robb and Rebecca Boggs Roberts is...well, it's a book. If you're into that whole "changing the world" thing, I guess this is supposed to be your go-to guide. It's got a lot of words about the suffragist movement and how you can, theoretically, channel that energy into modern activism. But, you know, whatever.

The book is filled with historical anecdotes and tips on how to organize, mobilize, and agitate for change. It covers the basics of the suffragist movement, and sure, it's kind of interesting to see how people used to fight for their rights. But at the end of the day, it's just another book trying to get you off your couch and into the streets.

The tone is motivational, which is great if you're into that sort of thing. It’s written to make you feel empowered and ready to tackle the world's problems. But let’s be real, who has the energy for that? The world is a mess, and while this book might give you some ideas on how to fix it, actually putting those ideas into action is a whole other story.

There are some practical tips in here about organizing and making your voice heard. If you’re the kind of person who gets jazzed about marching and protesting, you might find it useful. If not, it’s just a bunch of strategies that sound great in theory but are exhausting in practice.

In summary, if you're looking for a manual on how to become an activist and change the world, this book might be up your alley. But if you're more into the idea of social change than actually, you know, doing it, maybe just give it a skim. Or use it as a paperweight. Whatever floats your boat.

[NCHS Library]

Publisher's Description: Do you have a cause you're passionate about? Take a few tips from the suffragists, who led one of the largest, longest, and least well-known movements in American history. The women's suffrage movement was decades in the making and came with many harsh setbacks. But it resulted in a permanent victory: women's right to vote. How did the suffragists do it? One hundred years later, an eye-opening look at their playbook shows that some of their strategies seem oddly familiar. Women's marches at inauguration time? Check. Publicity stunts, optics, and influencers? They practically invented them. Petitions, lobbying, speeches, raising money, and writing articles? All of that, too. From moments of inspiration to some of the movement's darker aspects, including the racism of some suffragist leaders, violence against picketers, and hunger strikes in jail, this clear-eyed view takes in the role of key figures: Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frances Willard, Ida B. Wells, Alice Paul, and many more. Engagingly narrated by Lucinda Robb and Rebecca Boggs Roberts, whose friendship goes back generations (to their grandmothers, Lady Bird Johnson and Lindy Boggs, and their mothers, Lynda Robb and Cokie Roberts), this unique melding of seminal history and smart tactics is sure to capture the attention of activists-in-the-making today.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is both a history of of women's suffrage in the US and a guide to how to become an activist for a cause you believe in. Written in a conversational tone with actionable steps, this is a great primer for anyone looking to get into activism. By tying this together with examples from the women's suffrage movement in the United States, the reader gets both a history lesson and advice.

I particularly appreciated the way that the authors didn't shy away from the racism that steeped the American women's suffrage movement. While the explain it, helping the reader to understand the why of the racism for many of these women, they don't make excuses for it, nor do they excuse it as an understandable side effect of going for what they wanted; these suffragists are rightly held to task for the hypocrisy inherent in their racist stances and calls it what it was. There is also the inclusion of important Black suffragists and some information about the organizations that they founded and worked within.

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for review via NetGalley.

[Lysette H · Rating 5 out of 5]

"From moments of inspiration to some of the movement’s darker aspects—including the racism of some suffragist leaders, violence against picketers, and hunger strikes in jail—this clear-eyed view takes in the role of key figures: Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frances Willard, Ida B. Wells, Alice Paul, and many more."

"The Suffragist Playbook" by Robb and Boggs Roberts is the perfect introduction to the suffragist movement. As 2020 celebrates the centennial of the 19th Amendment, now is the perfect time to brush up on our history and remember that the fight for equal rights was hard fought, racially fraught, and incomplete. Included throughout the book are the various leaders, pivotal moments, and most effective strategies. A full reading will help guide your further studies into this subject.

[Lisa Barnes Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for any high school student who wants to get involved and make changes. I learned so much about early women that pioneered the suffrage movement and ultimately after decades of hard work managed to pass the 19th amendment to the constitution. It wasn't easy and most of the founding women didn't get to live long enough to see the fruits of their labor. This book also is very inspirational to any teen or adult that wants to make a change. Such advice as: engage a wider audience, don't always do what you are told and do your homework are broken down into chapters with lots of suffrage examples. A chapter devoted to racism makes the book very timely and shows how early suffragists disregarded promoting the black women's vote as not important. A Junior Library Guild gold standard.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to become an activist by looking back at the history of the Women's Suffragist Movement and at the women who led it.

This was interesting. I had heard of many of these women but there were a few I had never knew about. A little history of each leader was given and her actions in the movement were highlighted. There is still a lot of work to be done but without these women we wouldn't be as far as we are. This is also how racism and suffragism were and are so closely related.

Very good for teens who are just learning about this past and how it impacts the present and future.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A history of the struggle of women for the right to vote in the US which uses specific examples to convey essential elements of organizing and pursuing changes and causes. Written for teens, there is plenty for adults to learn—both about how women strategized and partnered and experimented to get the right to vote, and how to do right by your cause.

[George Kasnic · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book going into my classroom library. While the title is about the Suffrage movement, it is really a primer on activism and effecting change.

This book is incredibly useful, reminding us to focus on the objective, something in the heat of the moment I sometimes lose sight of. I admire those gifted leaders who never lose sight of the goal, they are rare and to be treasured. I have watched the president of our teacher’s local constantly demonstrate the type of activism and leadership spoken of in this book. I hope some of my students find similar talents in themselves.

[Colleen Mertens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book examines how the suffragists changed the world and applies their tactics to ways we can change our world. At a time when we need a lot of change if we want a better world, we can learn many things from this book. It was simple to read and interesting.

[Sim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from a goodreads giveaway.

This book is a good mix between a how to guide and a history book written in such a way that even a young reader could understand.

[Christine Irvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great combination of history, inspiration and practical advice to guide teenagers who aspire to change things in their lives.

[Great Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired by the brave women who fought for suffrage, The Suffragist Playbook is a wonderful guide for any young activist.

Reviewer #5

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very quick and easy read that provides a lot of information on the women’s suffrage movement and the women who organized it all.

[Paula]

This is a short and easy read but also gives you historical strategies.