Shirley Chisholm

“A well-rounded portrait of the late politician, who, half a century ago, helped set the tone for contemporary Black and feminist politics . . . Curwood deftly reveals Chisholm’s complexities and sometimes secretive nature as well as her tenacity in political struggles . . . A model political biography that all modern activists should read.”—Kirkus Reviews (*STARRED* review)

"A vivid biographical assessment of a remarkable woman, Anastasia Curwood reminds us of Chisholm’s legacy & makes her absence on the current political scene seem even more profound.”—Foreword Reviews (*STARRED* review)

“Accessible and enlightening, this is a well-rounded portrait of a pioneering politician.”—Publishers Weekly

“Readers will be left with a greater understanding of [Chisholm’s] impact on the U.S. political landscape and the personal and political toll of her efforts; they’ll also develop a deeper understanding of the work to close inequality gaps that remains.”—Library Journal

“A substantive and nuanced biography. . . . [Curwood is] that rare academic who can produce a necessary, rigorously researched, yet beautifully written and compulsively readable text.”—Journal of American History

“Curwood’s narrative allows us not only to understand the details of Chisholm’s political life but does so in an arresting, well-researched, and beautifully crafted biography.”—Journal of African American History

“This well-written volume is a treasure trove for researchers and advanced students interested in the workings of American politics.”—CHOICE

“Curwood has written a definitive and absorbing biography of Shirley Chisholm that details her life and work, as well as her unparalleled influence on feminism, politics and activism.”—Karla Strand, Ms. Magazine

“Curwood brings an analytic sharpness to Shirley Chisholm that works against the hagiographical impulse to create an iconic superwoman. . . . [This biography] challenge[s] what society has forgotten and [is] now shaping what we collectively remember.”—Journal of Women’s History

“An indelible portrait of the path-breaking politician . . . . [A] stirring biography.”—Christian Science Monitor