... compelling, thoughtful ... In powerful, insightful prose, Ryan shows readers why the accomplishments of Black women matter now more than ever ... In the wake of the racism and sexism that have characterized the Trump era, Ryan calls on all Americans to do better: to listen to, respect and celebrate Black women. Her book is an important step forward in that conversation.
... stirring ... Ryan’s text speaks volumes about Black women’s crucial roles as leaders, truth tellers, and unsung heroes for justice in the United States ... An informative, inspirational work by a leading political journalist; an essential purchase for public and academic libraries.
... passionate ... At times, Ryan’s prose reaches a prayer-meeting fervency, extolling Black women as 'truth-tellers' who 'mobilize the conscience of a country that is too slow to act on what’s right.' Forceful and inspired, this is a rousing praise song for strong Black women.
Though she moves fluidly across eras, Ryan focuses primarily on her role as a top White House correspondent during the Trump era and her reporting of—and sometimes personal involvement in—a range of stories prompted by his incendiary reign. Among the most memorable sections of the book are her response to the White supremacist terrorist attack in Charlottesville and her own often caustic exchanges with Trump and his representatives during press conferences. Ryan is particularly effective in evocatively setting forth the terms of her calling as a journalist. She argues convincingly that her career has been dedicated to posing questions too often slighted or silenced ... Also cogent are her accounts of recent efforts at voter suppression and the resistance being organized by formidably committed activists. A little more nuance might have been helpful in the author’s assessments of the status of a leader such as Kamala Harris, whose reputation among Black voters seems more complicated than Ryan implies. Overall, though, the author offers compelling commentary on the significance of Black women in contemporary America ... An impassioned celebration of Black women and their roles in transforming the nation.
