Black Women Will Save the World: An Anthem – A White House Reporter's Chronicle Featuring Kamala Harris, Maxine Waters, and Valerie Jarrett

by April Ryan

In this long-overdue celebration of Black women's resilience and unheralded strength, the revered, trailblazing White House correspondent reflects on "The Year That Changed Everything"--2020--and African-American women's unprecedented role in upholding democracy.

"I am keenly aware that everyone and everything has a story," April D. Ryan acknowledges. "Also, I have always marveled at Black women and how we work to move mountains and are never really thanked or recognized." In Black Women Will Save the World, she melds these two truths, creating an inspiring and heart-tugging portrait of one of the momentous years in America, 2020--when America elected its first Black woman Vice President--and celebrates the tenacity, power, and impact of Black women across America.

From the beginning of the nation to today, Black women have transformed their pain into progress and have been at the frontlines of the nation's political, social, and economic struggles. These "Sheroes" as Ryan calls them, include current political leaders such as Maxine Waters, Valerie Jarrett, and Kamala Harris; Brittany Packnett Cunningham, LaTosha Brown, and other activists; and artists like Regina King. Combining profiles and in-depth interviews with these influential movers and shakers and many more, Ryan explores the challenges Black women endure, and how the lessons they've learned can help us shape our own stories. Ryan also chronicles her personal journey from working-class Baltimore to the elite echelons of journalism and speaks out about the hurdles she faced in becoming one of the most well-connected members of the Washington press corps--while raising two daughters as a single mother in the aftermath of a messy divorce.

It is time for everyone to acknowledge Black women's unrivaled contributions to America. Yet our democracy remains in peril, and their work is far from done. Black Women Will Save the World presents a vital kaleidoscopic look at women of different ages and from diverse backgrounds who devote their lives to making the world a better place--even if that means stepping out of their "place."

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Race, Feminism, Womens, Audiobook

195 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 18, 2022

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly as advertised! April Ryan was a journalist in the White house press corps during the first Trump administration. During her tenure she was frequently disrespected and dismissed by the administration overtly because she was a Black female. It motivated her to write this short, uplifting book about the positive contributions and roles and in support of Black women in (primarily) American society. An appreciation. She urges us to recognize what we have accomplished collectively in spite of the many obstacles in our way.

"Recognize the trauma." ~ Fredrika Newton, president of the Huey P. Newton Foundation

A recognition for what has been achieved so far and potential for the future intermixed with memoirish illustrations of points. A little lite on history, but this is an opinion piece and meant to be inspirational. I enjoyed this very much and found it to be empowering!

4+ Stars

Read on kindle

[Lizzie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

** Thanks so much to NetGalley, April Ryan, and Amistad for this ARC! Black Women Will Save the World: An Anthem will be out on October 18th, 2022! **

If this book achieves anything, I hope it normalizes this: pay attention to Black women and girls.

April Ryan is an American reporter who covers the White House. Without necessarily knowing her name, you have likely heard her voice many times. Ryan dedicated this book to honoring the ways in which Black women have functioned as the unacknowledged drivers of social change in America. Ryan discusses a number of topics, including the adultification of Black girls, the gap in health outcomes for Black women, and the pervasive assumption that Black women are or should be "superheroes" without humanity or needs of their own.

A very important read, especially for those in the helping professions (teachers, doctors, social workers), as Ryan talks a great deal about the ways in which these professions fail to protect and care for Black girls and women appropriately.

[chantel nouseforaname · Rating 5 out of 5]

We see you, April! The blessing in this book is the ways in which Black women see each other. It's beautiful, special, and necessary. I was conflicted about the book title because I thought wow, you're putting that on your sisters shoulders? But no, she's highlighting the ways in which sisters BEEN carrying that truth and creating spaces, doing the hard work, ahem: Stacey Abrams, and asking the hard and pointed questions that rattle some things.

Much like bell hooks Sisters of the Yam, and Audre Lorde's Sister Outsider, this book highlights the importance of Black Women's self-care and uplift. It challenges those who are not Black women to confront and understand the challenges Black women and girls face. April Ryan shares the belief that addressing these challenges will make America a better country better for everyone. She provides a variety of ways to engage in that work. Step 1: Acknowledge Black women. Address the erasure of those who seek to use Black women and Black culture, but don't want none of their issues. I think that's a good place to start.

This book was an anthem! It was a love-letter. Much like the women of the community, much like April Ryan; Black Women Will Save the World: An Anthem possessed vulnerability and strength, love and compassion, truth and knowledge, it was an exceedingly enjoyable and purposeful read.

[Weekend Reader_]

The title says a lot about the contents of this book. I won't be rating this book bc I wonder if part of my consternation was I had certain expectations about the writing that weren't met. As in, I was expecting creative and nuanced investigation of this the thesis- expectation that Black women ARE expected to save campaigns, communities, business, etc without being credited or supported. That didn't happen (to me).

Um we have a problem 😕

Perhaps there was/is a generational gap but I think this rhetoric is easy to repeat bc the author might see it as (still) the most viable option. What I thought was the most wonky problem was the fact on one hand Ryan explicitly states BW are overlooked and exploited but the advice was to keep working hard. No that is supporting the further exploitation of labor (emotional and physical). Now there are recommendations to find community to remain whole but I'm not sure how those two things can exists.

I also thought it was odd to spend so much time talking about former President Obama's experience when auntie MO was right there. What in the world 😐 And VP Harris's identity was only correctly mentioned once. Small footnote but again I noticed Ryan focused on Biden moreso than Harris. Again this lopsided use of time spent on these men when the book is about BW was a choice.

I think overall the book made stronger connections about political engagement of BW than any other point. I'm guessing with editing it was recommended to be more expansive but it wasn't to fidelity.

Last observation for an argument to spend so much time on the doom and gloom to only have two chapters of hope makes me circle back to work hard that's the advice. I would like to offer BW often show up bc we are socialized to but also we understand what's at stake if we don't. And, I think a more optimistic approach is showing up despite the odds comes from a place of believing that we can make a difference and have different circumstances for not only for ourselves but for those around and behind us.

Oh really last point I was astonished that Ryan made the claim that BW aren't studied. Ma'am did you look? That's not true maybe it's not mainstream but let's be clear there are frameworks and studies working to provide a counter narrative. Shocked to say the least a journalist would not be a bit more careful in the framing. Very disappointed.

Thank you to HarperCollins/Amistad for providing a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Beverlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm still in my judging a book by its cover phase and this one is beautiful. Black women's role in society fluctuates. To some, she is a queen to be revered, to others she is a reliable source of labor. Sometimes she is seen as a queen only because she works so hard to help others reach their goals, live comfortably, feel confident in their skin. Black Women Will Save the World doesn't refute Black women's strength to endure whatever obstacle occurs in her life, it leans and relies heavily on the idea that Black women can and will do what's necessary to not just eke out an existence but to live abundantly. I admit to having mixed feelings about being seen as a Black woman who's forever strong and can handle stress and pressure without breaking a sweat. Is it a gift or a burden? Something to be proud of when I achieve a goal or feel like a complete failure when I don't? A famous saying came to mind in addition to the questions listed. "favor ain't fair." While I don't think I will ever like being referred to as a superhero because of my race and gender (Black woman) or occupation (teacher), it is nice to be appreciated just because I am who I am.
4 stars-this is indeed an anthem because it is loud praise for Black women doing what we do everyday-a large amount of that action is seeing to the betterment of those near and dear to us, those in close proximity through our jobs and/or community, and self. A large bulk of this anthem explores multiple Black women and how they make the US better. My particular favorite was learning more about April Ryan's background because that helped me as a reader understand her perspective better. Otherwise it would have been easy to dismiss Ryan's book as ignoring the numerous Black girls and women who try to navigate the world without a positive role model . Sadly, not all Black women see themselves as bearing responsibility to the next generation reaching their potential to do great things. Nor do all Black women see each other as we are, rather some are super competitive and go to great lengths to maintain number one status (be it for real or imaginary). There are so many Black women deserving of praise and Ryan's book acknowledges many (and this is not everyone):
VP Kamala Harris
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot
Ida B. Wells
Stacey Abrams
Rep. Maxine Waters
Rep. Ayanna Pressley
Naomi Osaka
Simone Biles
Sha'Carri Richardson
Ella Baker
Garrett Bradley
Gina Clayton-Johnson
Ruby Bridges
Tiffany Loftin
These women saved the world because they used their gifts for the betterment of the community, be it in a political or athletic arena.
Idea-why is there so little joy and an emphasis on resilience?

Quotables-
"As Black women, a defining trait of our leadership is to make it a little easier for others and those coming up behind us. Simply, we pay it forward. We look out for those on the come up, no matter their gender or race, ensuring that those with less power have the opportunity to get ahead. When pressed, Black women express feeling marginalized and overloooked in their own careers, and reject perpetuating that cycle for others." (42)

"It's well-chronicled the extent to which Black women pay a higher price for their achievements-from our education to our career to our health and even our families, we trade more to get a little less than everyone else. The life of the Black woman is partly characterized by the endurance of inferior treatment, distorted expectations, and an uneasy sense that we'll never fully belong." (85)

"We deserve to experience our full humanity." (115)

"Black women, like all people, are complex. We are flawed. We are imperfect. We are doing our best as we negotiate the change we want to effect in the world as it is. Our lives are often a difficult, delicate dance. Our failings, where they exist, should invite grace and a recognition of humanity. After all, we are all part of one human family-we just want to take out rightful seat at the proverbial table and have our humanity acknowledged, alongside yours." (164)

[Ladi Kreyol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get where Apryl was coming from but I think it’s time we put the cape down and save ourselves. As she said, no one listens to us the first time, but wants us to save them after they’ve ignored and erased our efforts. Definitely worth reading from an alternative perspective.

[Reading with Yolandas Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I love books that will give. Me any type of history or insight on black women being prosperous. Good read for me

[Ed Schneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

In full disclosure, I'm not the audience this book was aimed at. I'm not Black, not a woman and definitely not young. I debated how to look at this book. The author is a journalist and often when a journalist writes a book we get a deeper exploration of an event, an issue or a person in the news and usually we learn something new, newsworthy from the book. Something they've not published elsewhere. Making news is not what this book is about. While race is a central aspect of this book, it's not a book about race. As I wondered what is this really about, the subtitle stood out. This book is about a category of people. It's less about them and rather in support of them. It is as it claims, an anthem.

I looked up the definition of anthem - a rousing or uplifting song identified with a particular group, body, or cause. This book is not a song but the rest of the definition fits, it's the celebration of a particular group and their cause. It clearly sees Black women in a very positive light. And there's very little disagreement from me on that aspect. Black women represent a distinctly admirable group who desire more than they've ever gotten. That's crystal clear. I wish the author had stayed on celebrating the positive.

Unfortunately the author chooses to make the case that the positive is even more positive because of all the negative these women have endured. Again it's true they have endured things they should not have. But this is unfortunately what interferes with the basic anthem like message. We are reminded over and over, and over and over, of what these women have endured. Their superpower, their sisterhood, has been their key to overcoming all of that. I wish the author had realized how the negative can get in the way of the positive message she really want to send.

[J Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Women Will Save the World, by April Ryan, illustrates the many ways Black women have done, and still do, a disproportionate amount of the heavy lifting in our society.

This book serves, I think, several purposes. First, I believe, is that it gives acknowledgement to the many women who don't receive the recognition they deserve, that they have earned. I also see it as a history (and current events) course for those of us who haven't realized just how valuable the contributions have been. Those of us who fall into that category, white males in particular, can try to excuse our ignorance but that is counterproductive. Learn now and move forward with that knowledge.

Reading this came at a very good time for me. I was rereading (actually I was listening to the audiobook) of bell hooks' Sisters of the Yam. These two books work so well together. Self-care as an important part of making change in the world. If you haven't read Sisters, it is an excellent book to accompany this. They aren't really covering the same territory, yet they are. The micro and macro aggressions that can grind one down. Ryan talks about having to not show vulnerability (to certain people and in certain circumstances) and hooks speaks to the same mindset.

I would recommend this to Black women who often aren't seen or acknowledged no matter how much they contribute. This is also for everyone else, we need to understand how things we do can, intentionally or not, erase these strong women. We can help not only by acknowledging but also by helping to make positive change.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Nelda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read my fair share of Womanist books, yet I was still excited to read this one. I will say I was a bit down as some of the points felt redundant. I really wanted a bit more of her story throughout the book as I really enjoyed the parts that she did share. I would highly recommend this to anyone that’s looking for a book on Womanist Experience and/or to better understand and relate to Black Women.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Wendelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very good: April Ryan succeeds in writing a book that shows how black women face greater challenges and structural inequities of all kinds in the United States, from housing to employment to parenthood to income to health care, yet black women have at the same time been the vanguard of uplift and improvement of communities, both socially and politically

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish it were required reading.

[Amani]

My aunt gave me this book ❤️ I think this was really nice to listen to during black history month and women’s month

[Diane Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good exploration of power and community.

[Rachel Sisk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a rough listen given the current administration and the ongoing attacks on diversity equity and inclusion. But sometimes you have to sit in the uncomfortable feelings to learn and move forward. This is somewhere between a memoir and an extended opinion piece. Both parts were compelling but the more data based points would have been served better with stronger organization; some parts felt repetitive and unfocused which undermined the very important arguments being made. I would recommend this to anyone starting their intersectionality journey (remember if it's not intersectional it's not feminism!!!) because it introduces the impacts in clear but non academic terms.

[Denise Billings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Anthem to Black women is affirming to my soul. It will do the same for all Black women. It will open the eyes of the rest. Sisterhood is our superpower.

[Lorien]

Really hard to rate this book because I felt it had a lot of useful and interesting information, and the overall message is an important one for people to hear. On the other hand, the writing was somewhat repetitive- as Ryan makes her way through the different ways that Black women contribute to our society, many of the same sentences are used over and over. I think she was trying to hammer home her points but for me it was a distraction.

[Lisa | Read Between the Spines · Rating 4 out of 5]

April Ryan’s Black Women Will Save the World is both an anthem and a love letter to Black women. It is a celebration of Black women’s power, tenacity, perseverance, and impact.

As Ryan explains, Black women’s contributions to this country and its democracy have been historically overlooked. For one of the first times, after the 2020 election, the public gave Black women some acknowledgement for saving democracy and preventing another Trump presidential term. Yet, the full scope and history of Black women’s contributions to this country remain largely unacknowledged by the majority.

From abolition to women’s suffrage to Black Lives Matter, Black women often act as the moral compass of our country and are dedicated fighters for the truth and equity. Within Black Women Will Save the World, Ryan discusses how and why Black women lead, what they endure, how they overcome, and what may be next for Black women and America. Ryan also weaves her personal journey as a journalist into the book, specifically her experience as a Black woman in the White House Press Corps. She reflects on being often overlooked or pushed aside, or during the Trump administration denigrated and cast out, because her work and questions are inconvenient for people in power.

While I found this book to be moving and an important proclamation, Ryan’s arguments and statements were frequently repetitive. Furthermore, I always go into a nonfiction book hoping to learn and did not gain much knowledge from reading Black Women Will Save the World. (I should note that I have some education on this and similar topics.) I found that Ryan’s insights were not unfamiliar to me nor particularly deep. Perhaps the lack of nuance can simply be chalked up to her training as a journalist, since it felt indicative of short form writing.

I thought that Ryan’s experience and personal narrative lent credence to her political assertions and provided her the connections to gain first-hand accounts from major political figures. Her strongest points were in relation to Black women’s political engagement and contributions.

I appreciated that Ryan provided action items for readers. As I read the entire book, I was thinking about what I could do, and she both confirmed these thoughts and gave additional steps. However, I think Black women of younger generations may find it problematic that Ryan encourages Black women to keep up the good fight despite its toll – exploitation, unpaid labor, and intergenerational trauma.

I am unclear who comprises Ryan’s intended audience. I think this book will be uplifting to Black female readers (minus the aforementioned issue) and incredibly informative for those who do not realize the value of Black women’s contributions. While I understand the importance of spirituality and religion for Black Americans, if Ryan did intend for the book to target the latter, I think her inclusion of religious statements may be detrimental.

Overall, I enjoyed Black Women Will Save the World but wish it was less repetitive and more nuanced. However, I urge white people, especially those that fear performative allyship, to read this. It is a solid, short introduction to the contributions of Black women to the U.S.

Rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up

[Alyssa (Cozy.Soul.Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so empowering and impactful! I am grateful I got to read this as an audiobook on libby and would highly reccomend to anyone who needs support now as a person of color.

[LaShanda Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Black women make the extraordinary ordinary. We drive change in a society that wasn’t built for us in order to make it better for all of us”-April Ryan.

This book was very personal for me. As I read it, I cried so many tears. The struggles that we as Black Women face are so real, so painful. But so often, we just keep on going on, shouldering that pain with us. So much of Ryan’s words in this book resonated with me. As a Black Woman, I have faced many of these challenges listed in the book. I often ask myself, “when is enough, enough? When do we get our chance?” For many of us, we are deemed unqualified but then given a front row seat to the underqualified person selected. Underqualified you say? No worries, we can teach them. This is the fate of some many black women.

It is my hope this book will help create awareness for black women & black girls. I remain hopefully that others will begin to see our greatness & finally appreciate it.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, April Ryan, and Amistad for this ARC!

[Stephanie A-M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my 100th book for 2022. I could not have reached this milestone with a more appropriate selection. By the conclusion of the text when Ryan lists the names of the Black superwomen she mentions in this book my heart was full and my eyes were teary. It felt like a chorus to a song that I know by heart, but just hadn't heard in a good long while.

Black Women Will Save The World: An Anthem is as April Ryan describes it a love letter to Black Women...the everyday women we work alongside, those that care for and serve us, the ones we grow up idolizing and the ones who fight for our right to simply exist in our skin (and hair) on the world's stage.

This is a fantastic inner look at what it means to be a Black woman and how for some that means you are absolutely ALL THE THINGS and to others...you are regarded as little more than nothing.

Topics include: politics, racism, sexism, intersectionality, erasure, sisterhood, self care

[LaQuetta Glaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book discusses the unheralded efforts of black women. A pertinent quote from April Ryan: “Also, I have always marveled at Black women and how we work to move mountains and are never really thanked or recognized.” This quote includes her. She is a revered forerunner in journalism. She speaks and we listen. Her book discusses many of the black women who have lent the their strength, tenacity, and creativity to make the world a better place even if that means “stepping out of their place.” Read via Audible; the author read her own book, which was a bonus for me. Highly Recommended. An excellent read.

[Arianne Padilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

April Ryan is the voice everyone needs to hear. She's already done so much work as a white house correspondent, and now through her book, we get to learn a little more about the struggles black women face in our country. She names it all from healthcare to the workplace. This is an important book and I hope many people will pick it up. I think the last part was really important on how black women can start saving themselves and how the rest of us can do better. One of the things on there was highlighting their voices, I think it's a good first step.

[Bruin Mccon · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You may be thanked, but you aren’t seen.”

This book is as good as you think it is. Eye-opening and important.

[Briana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot. The beginning felt a bit repetitive, but it picked up. Great book club book!

[Ma'Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars for the essential message at the heart of this book. It's just some of the particulars and politics that didn't resonate with me. I wasn't familiar with April Ryan, but knowing now that she's been the first and only White House Press person dedicated to covering U.S. politics through a racial lens, and she wanted to be a journalist ever since she saw Oprah Winfrey as a Baltimore TV newscaster in the '70s, that tells me a lot about her chops and some of the shit she's been through that isn't in this book. She talks about being threatened and having a literal bomb sent to her after Trump became president, and man, the way she talks about the Trump presidency years entirely in the past tense, I am genuinely afraid for her right now (in early election year 2024, as we face the possibility of Trump returning to the the White House despite facing 91 felony charges presently and having just been ordered by a judge to pay the state of New York more money than he is estimated to actually have in liquid cash - about $455 million after interest, but I have zero faith in the Democratic Party or the rigged pro-slavery, anti-democracy American political system as far as voting on the Federal level goes. We are never given a good option.)
Now, if you don't care to see the things I didn't agree with or things I found factually untrue in this book, you can stop reading. This is just a silly goodreads "review."

But given that this book is written by a veteran professional journalist at the highest level in the nation, and this book specifically is about Black Women, how the hell did she and her editors describe the incredible living legend Angela Davis as being "allegedly associated with communism"?!!? Like, Angela was very much openly in the Communist Party and was dedicated for years to revolution through communism. She talks about it in her autobiography plenty and it wouldn't be hard to fact check. Describing her this way reeks of the pro-capitalism, patriotic, anti-commie bias that consistently runs through the rest of the book. Her biggest hero is Oprah. She loves "genocide Joe Biden" and "vice cop-in-chief" Kamala Harris. So, just knowing those things, you can take your own biases and political leanings into account and decide if this book is for you or not. It's a perfectly valid, short entry into the contemporary Black woman-praising canon (Now that I think about it, I don't think the author uses the word "feminism" once or even names Kimberlé Crenshaw! Is that possible? It's totally possible I missed it - I wish I could easily scan for it.) It's just a lot more conservative (which is to say, neoliberal or self-described "progressive") than the kinds of feminists I tend to align with most. There's also something about how she mentions periodically that bad things happen to "transgender and nonbinary people" and it always sounds like a footnote. I never get the sense that "trans women ARE women" to April Ryan. For her, it's always "women, and trans and nonbinary people," which unfortunately comes off as gross and othering even if the intention is to be inclusive. (She never uses the word cis woman, which is part of reason this came off as a red flag to me.)

[Dominique A · Rating 3 out of 5]

April Ryan, a reporter for the White House details the struggles of being a black women in todays world of politics. She showcases just how she works twice as hard to get half as far as some of her white and or male counterparts. Black women have been a driving force for social and political change yet do not get the recognition they deserve.
They are unprotected and seemingly made to be superhuman to get anywhere in this world. This is an anthem to the downtrodden, hypersexualized, often seen as angry and aggressive black woman, Despite the mountains of adversity they have to overcome these women such as Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms are still killin it. They are strong career women and a force to be reckoned with.
I enjoyed how this book highlighted so many unknown accomplishments of black women particularly in politics. Joe Biden’s election to the White House was largely the efforts of black women. It also stated clearly how far we have to go in health care disparity and income gaps. This book states only 6% of nurses are black women and I’m proud to be in that 6%. I know I make less than my white and male counterparts and hopefully one day the necessary change will come.
Brother Malcolm X had it right when he said, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman.”

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an engaging read and it would benefit *everyone* to read it. I read her passion in making sure Black women aren't invisible, and are given the respect and credit they deserve. The thing that would have made this even better would have been more stories and examples from other people. But I guess that's a different book.

I did, however, find parts to be repetitive. For example, she introduced wage discrepancy, certain people, Charlottesville more than once. It made it feel like each chapter was an individual essay and not part of a whole book.

I was also confused by Corey Booker as the intro. I love Corey Booker and I think he has done important work. But in a book where we are learning specifically about a group of ignored women, it felt a bit mansplainy, even if he was honoring his mom.

My last thought has little to do with the book itself. This book was published in 2022. I read it in 2025. The tone is optimistic and hopeful, even when it is cautionary and recognizes the work we need to continue to do. But in 2025, I just feel we have gone completely backwards, even more than 2016-2020, that it was really hard for me to get on board with the ideas that we are doing better.

[K.Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read White House correspondent April Ryan's "Black Women Will Save the World: An Anthem" for my local library book club. I was moved by how much harder it was for her to succeed and the many times she was overlooked and an assignment given to a white journalist. She stated even though she was a journalist there were many times she had to hold her tongue. To not do so would mean it could wreck her career because she would be viewed as the "angry Black woman" trope and her career would be derailed. She could not be as confrontational as white male reporters such as Mike Wallace, the former "60 Minutes" reporter. She also wrote about careers of other prominent Black women, some of whom became the 1st to achieve their levels of success. I was already familiar with the stories of many of the women she features such as Vice President Kamala Harris, author Nikole Hannah Jones, super vote getter Stacy Abrams and actress Viola Davis. So I didn't learn anything new by reading this but I'm sure a lot of people will.

[Ziv · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful book chronicling the experiences of black women and the many unique and powerful ways they have been able to overcome the constant hurtles thrown at them by a world that is not made for them and constantly fails to provide for them. This book provides many examples of different black women and the author April Ryan has many connections as she works in the press in the white house. As so many political events have been taking place in the past decade it was super interesting hearing her perspective as a black woman inside the white house. Additionally, she calls on other amazing black women to share there experiences weather they hold powerful positions or are just regular strong women living out their everyday lives. I thought this was a beautiful book and highlighted many of the problems that are faced by black women today. I would definitely recommend this book to others, It was very beautifully written and I learned so much.