Gender and Jim Crow, Second Edition

“An exquisitely written and conceived book about turn-of-the-century North Carolina.” — New Republic

“In this stunning reclamation of some largely bypassed aspects of Southern history, Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore casts a vivid light on the nexus of race, gender and power in North Carolina from the late 19th century through the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment (which gave women the vote) in 1920. Gilmore’s finely crafted, engrossing book puts women at the center of its inquiry.” — Washington Post Book World

“Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore sets out in this book to reinterpret turn-of-the-century southern politics from the perspective of middle-class black women activists. She succeeds brilliantly. The book not only reclaims the long-buried stories of a group of richly compelling characters; it also redefines what should count as 'politics' in southern history and suggests a research agenda that could engage a generation of students.” — American Historical Review

“A wonderful analysis of the roles of race, class, and gender in Southern politics prior to the 1900s, but also includes African American disenfranchisement and the woman suffrage movement in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. . . . Gilmore skillfully infuses the important roles both African-American and white women played.” — Journal of Women’s History

“Gilmore’s book is not only carefully researched and executed but also gracefully written. It should be required reading for anyone interested in southern history, political history, or studies of race and gender.” — Journal of Southwest Georgia History

“[Gilmore] uses gender, race, and class to bring to the foreground a variety of dimensions of political participation that are virtually invisible in traditional renderings, and she presents a view of Southern history that is remarkable. . . . [Gender and Jim Crow] brings new meaning and insight to a long-standing account of politics. It sets a different pace from a regional perspective — and, by extension — from a national perspective as well, of who we are now and, indeed, who we were then.” — The Historian

“A sophisticated analysis of race relations in the New South that places gender at the center stage and handles class with a deft touch. . . . Elegantly written, carefully argued, and well researched, this book is a model for future work in the field." — North Carolina Historical Review

“Gender and Jim Crow is nothing short of a masterpiece of southern history. Rarely has political history been hewn so artfully from the timbers of ordinary lives. . . . Every Tar Heel should be proud that one of our own daughters wrote this eloquent and important book.” — Raleigh News & Observer

“A powerful and eloquent book, one that will alter our understanding of a pivotal era in the history of the American South.” — Edward L. Ayers, University of Virginia

“Gender and Jim Crow demands that attention be paid to the pivotal role of middle-class African American women in the making of southern politics.” — Elsa Barkley Brown, University of Michigan