Description
Book SynopsisOften photographed in a cowboy hat with her middle finger held defiantly in the air, Florynce “Flo” Kennedy (1916-2000) left a vibrant legacy as a leader of the Black Power and feminist movements. In the first biography of Kennedy, Sherie M. Randolph traces the life and political influence of this strikingly bold and controversial radical activist.
Trade ReviewA fitting, overdue tribute to an unapologetic firebrand and tireless advocate that time almost forgot"". - Kam Williams, syndicated critic
""Sherie M. Randolph has written an important biography of an important figure in twentieth-century American feminism and Black Power. I repeat 'important' because Florynce 'Flo' Kennedy self-consciously worked—actually, she agitated—at the confluence of feminism and Black Power with the conviction that racism and sexism were not only foundational in American society but also inextricably intertwined"". - Nell Irvin Painter, in
Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society""A valuable account of this lesser-known, entirely remarkable woman"". -
Los Angeles Times""Stimulating and very readable. . . . Makes a substantial addition to the history of 20th-century social movements"". -
Against the Current""Successfully recounts Kennedy's dynamic life: bursting with stories of rebellion and triumph, with a backdrop of historical context and, always, a hint of mystery"". -
ESSENCE""Randolph . . . has done an important service for anyone who cares about fashioning a complete and complex record of post-World War II feminist activism"" -
Women's Review of Books""Randolph's writing is lucid, and her comprehensive political and intellectual biography of Kennedy not only restores Kennedy to the history of U.S. radicalism but it also illuminates the interconnections among movements against racial and gender oppression. . . . If you are a legal historian, scholar of African American history, or a student of feminism, this book is a must-read"". -
Journal of American History""Breaks new ground [as the] first full-length biography of black feminist radical Florynce 'Flo' Kennedy. . . . Significantly expands the historical scholarship. Highly recommended"". -
Choice""An excellent and welcome biography of a fearless radical activist who has been overlooked for too long"". -
American Historical Review""[A] stirring biography. . . . This important book is the story, as Randolph handily tells it, of an extremely brave woman who used the courts as well as the media and worked with a multitude of groups to build and maintain coalitions and create lasting change"". -
Library Journal, starred review
