Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

The lives of forty bold black women are highlighted here and writer Vashti Harrison didn’t stop there, adding more names in an appendix. A book which makes readers want to find out more. Some names will be familiar – from Sojourner Truth, Mary Seacole and Harriet Tubman through to contemporary women such as Angela Davis, Diane Abbott and Oprah Winfrey. Interesting connections emerge, for example Dr Mae Jemison, the first African American woman astronaut, was inspired to apply to NASA by seeing Nichelle Nichols’ portrayal of Lieutenant Uhura in Star Trek. Vashti Harrison’s decision to make the illustrations of the women look interchangeable seems a curious one at first but she explains this in her introduction.

Also: Little Leaders. Exceptional Men in Black History (9780241407158), Puffin £12.99