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Twice as Hard: The Stories of Black Women Who Fought to Become Physicians, from the Civil War to the Twenty-First Century
The first complete history of Black women physicians in the US, told through a blend of extensive archival research and the author's own journey as a medical student
As a young Black woman considering a path in medicine, Jasmine Brown quickly realized there weren't many other Black women physicians to look to as role models--but not because Black women haven't served as doctors for hundreds of years. No complete history of Black women physicians in the United States exists, and what little mention is made to these women in existing histories is often insubstantial or altogether incorrect. In this work of extensive research, Jasmine Brown champions a new history, penning the long-erased stories of Black women physicians in permanent ink.
The legacy of African American women physicians began with Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, whose dreams of working as a physician led her to embark on that career path at a time when slavery was still legal. Only fourteen months after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler graduated from medical school and then promptly moved to Richmond, Virginia to provide medical care for the newly freed slaves who had be neglected and exploited by the medical system.
Jasmine Brown tells this and other stories from the perspective of a historian and a Black woman in medicine. As a medical student, her journey already has parallels to that of Black women who entered medicine generations before her. This work establishes a lineage of Black women doctors whose accomplishments are undeniably important and inspirational, shedding light on the Black women doctor role models that medical students like Jasmine grew up without.
As a young Black woman considering a path in medicine, Jasmine Brown quickly realized there weren't many other Black women physicians to look to as role models--but not because Black women haven't served as doctors for hundreds of years. No complete history of Black women physicians in the United States exists, and what little mention is made to these women in existing histories is often insubstantial or altogether incorrect. In this work of extensive research, Jasmine Brown champions a new history, penning the long-erased stories of Black women physicians in permanent ink.
The legacy of African American women physicians began with Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, whose dreams of working as a physician led her to embark on that career path at a time when slavery was still legal. Only fourteen months after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler graduated from medical school and then promptly moved to Richmond, Virginia to provide medical care for the newly freed slaves who had be neglected and exploited by the medical system.
Jasmine Brown tells this and other stories from the perspective of a historian and a Black woman in medicine. As a medical student, her journey already has parallels to that of Black women who entered medicine generations before her. This work establishes a lineage of Black women doctors whose accomplishments are undeniably important and inspirational, shedding light on the Black women doctor role models that medical students like Jasmine grew up without.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published January 24, 2023
58 people are currently reading
3604 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
March 22, 2023
Timely, powerful, relevant and important book.
May 5, 2023
I applaud this young author and medical student, Ms. Jasmine Brown, for writing such a timely and compelling book. I adored reading the stories of how Black women used their upbringing, the challenges they endured on their journeys to becoming doctors, and the support from their community to pursue careers in medicine. These women endured poverty, racism, classism, and misogyny, to name a few. But they all kept their sights on the goal and fought to get there. I also loved how Jasmine woven her own story of becoming a medical student into the stories of these brave women. I learned so much, and it inspired me. The work these women engaged in over decades still resonates in the medical field to this day, and there is nothing that anyone can say or do to erase the contributions of Black women in the field.
July 22, 2023
TWICE AS HARD:
Jasmine Brown
I always appreciate the research that goes into a book like this, but Ms. Brown made that research come alive. She tells about the lives of amazing women who against all odds were able to overcome the hurdles and become doctors. Clearly, it wasn't enough that these heroes were women, but were black women at that.
It was a fast and interesting read. I recommend it to everyone.
5 STars
Happy Reading!
Jasmine Brown
I always appreciate the research that goes into a book like this, but Ms. Brown made that research come alive. She tells about the lives of amazing women who against all odds were able to overcome the hurdles and become doctors. Clearly, it wasn't enough that these heroes were women, but were black women at that.
It was a fast and interesting read. I recommend it to everyone.
5 STars
Happy Reading!
May 31, 2023
4/5! Such an important read, chronicles the difficult but awe inspiring paths of Black woman physicians in the US. Honestly, shows how far we’ve come but also how much farther we still have to go. Wasn’t a huge fan of the author referring to themselves throughout the text, I prefer a more objective biography.
February 28, 2023
A look at the journeys, hardships, and progress made for black women physicians since the civil war. Stories of real women, the glass ceilings they shattered, and the progress still to be made.
March 20, 2023
This book was really really good. I think I originally found it on UPenns Instagram and I immediately know I was gunna read it.
“Go after what you want, and you have to go at it with determination and proficiency. When you get there, you have to be the best. And that has been the secret to my success, if I have any”
“When a patient walks into your office, watch him from the time he walks into your office to the time he walks out. Listen to everything he says. Let him sit comfortably in the office and tell you what he wants to tell you”
“Go after what you want, and you have to go at it with determination and proficiency. When you get there, you have to be the best. And that has been the secret to my success, if I have any”
“When a patient walks into your office, watch him from the time he walks into your office to the time he walks out. Listen to everything he says. Let him sit comfortably in the office and tell you what he wants to tell you”
January 30, 2024
5 stars for the fact I think the author wrote this while in medical school/residency?
I could never. Super impressive. I'm 100% grateful she's made a record of black female doctors, and I loved hearing each women's story. The style was a little off for me, I wish I was a little more engaged and the writing was more colorful, but that could just be because she's working with a limited written history? I would totally recommend this to any pre/medical students or doctors to read though.
I could never. Super impressive. I'm 100% grateful she's made a record of black female doctors, and I loved hearing each women's story. The style was a little off for me, I wish I was a little more engaged and the writing was more colorful, but that could just be because she's working with a limited written history? I would totally recommend this to any pre/medical students or doctors to read though.
February 28, 2023
I really enjoyed reading Brown's well-researched and engaging collection of biographical vignettes on important Black American female physicians. As a fellow female physician, I feel lot of my most important medical education has taken place through learning about the systemic prejudices and injustices and crude practices that modern medicine grew out of (and in spite of).
Further reading by/about Black physicians:
The Beauty in Breaking: A Memoir by Michele Harper, MD
Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine by Damon Tweedy, MD
Further reading about the history of female physicians:
Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine by Olivia Campbell
No Man's Land: The Trailblazing Women Who Ran Britain’s Most Extraordinary Military Hospital During World War I by Wendy Moore
Further reading by/about Black physicians:
The Beauty in Breaking: A Memoir by Michele Harper, MD
Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine by Damon Tweedy, MD
Further reading about the history of female physicians:
Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine by Olivia Campbell
No Man's Land: The Trailblazing Women Who Ran Britain’s Most Extraordinary Military Hospital During World War I by Wendy Moore
March 9, 2023
I appreciated this book so much! Thank you, Jasmine Brown for your excellent, meticulously researched work to highlight incredible Black women who served as physicians dating back from the Civil War until now. Embarrassingly and sadly, I had not heard of any of these women prior to reading this book. I am so thankful that I read this book and that I was able to be introduced to these intelligent, gifted physicians. Their lives, stories, and achievements (despite the innumerable factors working against them) are truly an inspiration!
April 27, 2023
I look forward to reading more from this author in the future, and I definitely recommend. The author is very accomplished, but also very young, and there's quite a bit of variability in the strength of the writing throughout. If the author chooses to write another book it will be on my list.
September 6, 2023
Easy reading, difficult subject matter, and such inspiring stories! This is a fascinating and important book. I want to share it with all of my former students (I’m retired) on a path to a career in the medical professions.
January 25, 2025
Enriched my understanding of medical history in the United States. Challenged me to encourage young people, both minority and majority to bring equality to the medical field.
May 26, 2025
Very informative, hopeful that the good will prevail in the end. Very timely so it also makes me sad that the country is going backwards and blaming affirmative action and DEI policies for the country’s problems in the education system. The author did a lot of research for this book and it was good to know the names of the Black women doctors who were pioneers during their time. Opened the doors for other Black women and minorities to enter the world of medicine.
March 8, 2024
I am thrilled to have stumbled upon this gem. After adding it to my Black History Month reading list, I found it to be a perfect complement to my work at a medical school. [Future] Dr. Brown's research shines through in every chapter, offering a well-structured and eloquently written exploration. Her expertise not only made it a compelling read but also added a valuable layer of authenticity to the narrative. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a captivating and well-researched exploration in the field.
February 26, 2024
Haiku Book Review.
Really good content.
Written at freshman level.
Made it hard to read.
Really good content.
Written at freshman level.
Made it hard to read.
February 14, 2024
An amazing book about nine Black women that worked so hard despite systemic barriers to become doctors. The writing style is captivating and compelling, and I think the author does a good job blending personal narratives and illuminating statistics in each chapter. One thing I really love is that she states that she doesn't make up any quotes or scenes. She doesn't fictionalize these women's stories, because they are real and should be treated as real history, not a practice in fiction writing. But even as she commits to only take from accounts/interviews/resources, Brown is able to weave together a wonderfully narrated story of each woman's life. And being a Black woman medical student, Jasmine Brown is able to shed light on some of her personal experiences that mirror those of these nine doctors. Some things have changed, but some things have stayed the same.
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Dr. May Chinn, Dr. Dorothy Ferebee, Dr. Lena Edwards, Dr. Edith Irby Jones, Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston, Dr. Claudia Thomas, and Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey.
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Dr. May Chinn, Dr. Dorothy Ferebee, Dr. Lena Edwards, Dr. Edith Irby Jones, Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston, Dr. Claudia Thomas, and Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2024
As a Black medical student, Jasmine Brown looked around and recognized that she didn't see much mention of Black female physicians. In response (and while in medical school!), she assembled this history of Black female physicians in the United States going back to Dr. Rebecca Crumpler - the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the United States, shortly after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. In Twice as Hard, Brown profiles the careers of 9 extraordinary Black Women who became physicians in the US. In most of the profiles, she draws comparisons to the experiences of these women and her own personal experience as a Black female medical student. The mix of the personal experience with the biographical account helps to tie a thread between these women's experiences. If you like stories about individuals who overcome the odds while also examining the structural issues that create the odds, or if you just like stories about women's experience is science, this is an excellent, informative read.
February 16, 2023
What an inspiring book! This amazing young woman has researched and now written about pioneering Black women who managed, somehow, despite incredible odds, to become doctors and work hard for patients and communities. Through rejection, persecution, outright and open racism and sexism, these women persevered and achieved so much. This book is not a long or difficult read, but it seems to be promoted as mostly an adult volume--that is where I found it at my library. But this just cries out for a young adult or juvenile version. What an impact these stories could have if we could get them into the hands of kids! This was clearly well researched and it is well written, too, with good comments and episodes from the author's life as well. This would be great for any young person considering medicine, or really anyone considering doing something in life that might be hard or full of obstacles. Highly recommended.
April 4, 2024
3.5 stars
In medical school herself, Jasmine Brown became interested in discovering more - and in some cases the truth - about black women who became physicians but history has neglected to mention. These weren't just black women Brown picked out of thin air, these were black women who blazed the trail in some way for future black women to become doctors if they so desired. Starting with the first black woman to apply to and be admitted to medical school (1860) to a few of the more recent black women trailblazers, Brown gives the reader a careful history of the woman, her particular passion for medicine, the challenges she encountered, and how she overcame those challenges. It served as a boon to Brown herself as she was working on achieving that MD status and it can, and I am sure will, serve as an encouragement to other black girls and women who have been told they "can't." Guess what ladies? You most certainly can.
In medical school herself, Jasmine Brown became interested in discovering more - and in some cases the truth - about black women who became physicians but history has neglected to mention. These weren't just black women Brown picked out of thin air, these were black women who blazed the trail in some way for future black women to become doctors if they so desired. Starting with the first black woman to apply to and be admitted to medical school (1860) to a few of the more recent black women trailblazers, Brown gives the reader a careful history of the woman, her particular passion for medicine, the challenges she encountered, and how she overcame those challenges. It served as a boon to Brown herself as she was working on achieving that MD status and it can, and I am sure will, serve as an encouragement to other black girls and women who have been told they "can't." Guess what ladies? You most certainly can.
May 28, 2025
This is such an inspiration. Seeing the way that these women have worked and shaped so much of today is amazing and this was such an important and beautiful love letter to these black women who are often left out of so many conversations. Reading their stories and experiences was so inspiring, and I loved seeing when and how their stories led into one another. There is an invisible thread that connects these narratives and it is so cool seeing how success leads to more and more success down the line.
I am so appreciative for this book for the perspective and knowledge that is shared and the ability to carry this legacy forward.
I do think there were some structural/framework issues that occasionally detracted from the overall narrative flow. There were also a few times where I felt like the book was teetering a fine line between info-dumpy text and emotionally resonant storytelling.
4.25
I am so appreciative for this book for the perspective and knowledge that is shared and the ability to carry this legacy forward.
I do think there were some structural/framework issues that occasionally detracted from the overall narrative flow. There were also a few times where I felt like the book was teetering a fine line between info-dumpy text and emotionally resonant storytelling.
4.25
December 2, 2025
If you ever needed a book to help you feel like a spoiled underachieving baby, have I got the book for you.
This med student author sought out other African American women in medicine, to give herself the encouragement of knowing they exist, and then wrote a book and got published. While in medical school.
And each of these women hauled ass despite everything in their way.
The book structure takes you from way way back, through nearer and nearer history, and does a good job daisy chaining the experiences together to show the connections in timing, academic experience, and areas of expertise. The writing is a little bit book report-y at times but it’s a negligible issue if you stay focused on the picture she’s painting.
This med student author sought out other African American women in medicine, to give herself the encouragement of knowing they exist, and then wrote a book and got published. While in medical school.
And each of these women hauled ass despite everything in their way.
The book structure takes you from way way back, through nearer and nearer history, and does a good job daisy chaining the experiences together to show the connections in timing, academic experience, and areas of expertise. The writing is a little bit book report-y at times but it’s a negligible issue if you stay focused on the picture she’s painting.
March 27, 2024
A series of biographies of pioneering black women physicians, presented in chronological order from the mid-1800s to present day. This well-researched book provides deep historical context, moving individual stories, and modern-day information in a fascinating mix. The writing was a little dry and sometimes veered toward sounding like a college application essay, but I understand the author's motivation to include her own drive to become a physician in these pages, as the project of this book is to provide representation and inspiration for other black women in medicine. In this worthy mission, it definitely succeeds.
July 28, 2023
What a great topic Jasmine chose to write about!! I enjoyed reading and learning about each of the women. They each had many obstacles to overcome over and above the color of their skin. Many of the families financial struggles played a significant part in their families. Jasmine clearly relates to a number of the same struggles these women experienced today as she makes her way accomplishing goals providing her with diverse experiences. This book is a great read providing a window into the lives of women who wanted to be doctors and how varied paths to becoming doctors.
J.
J.
March 27, 2025
Especially in light of what's happening nowadays, this is required historical reading to me. Whether you're in medicine or not, it's a reminder that there are Black women who defied harrowing barriers to give back to the communities often overlooked by racist and sexist beliefs. It's thanks to their efforts that there will be more of them, and I'm so grateful for that. Enlightening and inspiring from start to finish.
While the writing can be a bit dry and academic, it's for a solid reason. Context means everything here. I wish this book could be celebrated in every person's library.
While the writing can be a bit dry and academic, it's for a solid reason. Context means everything here. I wish this book could be celebrated in every person's library.
April 29, 2023
Brown weaves biography with history with her own present-day experiences, making for an un-put-downable book. As a physician (white, woman) who graduated medical school over 20 years ago, I wish my education had included more about the stories of these brave, trailblazing women. Brown's book will be a welcome addition to the field. Even more impressive is, from her bio and anecdotes, she wrote this book as a med student herself. I look forward to seeing what Brown does next!
June 4, 2023
As a white woman physician I was naturally attracted to this slim volume. The stories of these women who persevered in spite of all the obstacles in their way is inspiring. They never wavered from their goal even though they heard more discouraging than encouraging remarks from advisors in schools. Their families and communities did believe in them and supported their efforts.
This book is not only well researched but also well written, the best kind of history.
This book is not only well researched but also well written, the best kind of history.
April 30, 2023
Thank you to Beacon Press for a copy of this book. This book was a very well researched and fascinating study of racism and gender discrimination in the medical profession. I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot about american history and medicine. Congratulations to author and soon to be doctor Jasmine Brown on her hard work and studies!
July 18, 2023
A book showcasing how amazing Black Women are. As a surgical technologist learning about Dr. Claudia Thomas, an orthopedic surgeon, was my favorite chapter, but I left the book in awe of every single woman I read about.
I can only hope to have even a fraction of the impact these women have had in the world of medicine.
I can only hope to have even a fraction of the impact these women have had in the world of medicine.
May 25, 2024
This is fascinating! I do not usually enjoy nonfiction and I was trepidatious going into a nonfiction written by a doctor. I thought it would be dry and technical and I am so happy to have been so wrong. The author did a GREAT job of storytelling and explaining the amazing things these women did medically without getting bogged down by jargon or minutiae of the medical world. Great read.
June 7, 2024
Such a great topic and the people she highlights in this book are truly inspiring. Writing style wasn’t my favorite, but the author is a doctor, not necessarily an experienced writer so nbd. It was just confusing going back and forth telling the other person’s story and then randomly inserting personal experiences. Nevertheless, this is a must-read imo!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews