Lifting As They Climbed: A Mapped History of Chicago's Black Women Trailblazers

Lifting As They Climbed is a guidebook to influential Black women from Chicagos South and West Sides, highlighting their social, cultural, and artistic contributions to movements past and present. It includes 75 women, from activists to artists, and is structured as a self-guided walking tour with maps and accessible narratives. The updated and extended edition reveals powerful connections between their endeavors and present-day struggles for radical community-building and solidarity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 120 pages
Publication date: 21 September 2023
Publisher: Haymarket Books

Lifting As They Climbed: An Essential Guidebook to Influential Black Women from Chicago's South and West Sides and Their Social, Cultural, and Artistic Contributions to Movements Past and Present
Chicago's South and West Sides have been home to a diverse and influential community of Black women who have made significant social, cultural, and artistic contributions to movements both past and present. Lifting As They Climbed, an essential guidebook to these women, provides a comprehensive understanding of their lives and achievements.

Geographically, historically, and politically, Lifting As They Climbed offers readers an in-depth exploration of the numerous Black women who have empowered their neighborhoods and communities throughout the nineteenth century to today. Structured as a self-guided walking tour, the book showcases seventy-five women—activists, artists, musicians, and more—through sites and landmarks on Chicago's South and West Sides.

Among the women featured in Lifting As They Climbed are Margaret Burroughs, Gwendolyn Brooks, Mahalia Jackson, and many others. This updated and extended edition is a testament to the stories of women whose lives have gone largely untold and whose lives reveal powerful connections between their endeavors and present-day struggles for radical community-building and solidarity.

With no "official" landmarks to preserve the history of their social justice efforts, Lifting As They Climbed is an intervention against their erasure. It highlights the importance of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of Black women to Chicago's history and culture and serves as a call to action for those who wish to learn more about these remarkable individuals.

Through its detailed narratives and captivating photographs, Lifting As They Climbed invites readers to explore the rich and diverse history of Black women in Chicago and to appreciate the impact they have had on the city's social, cultural, and artistic landscape. Whether you are a resident of Chicago or a visitor to the city, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about the contributions of Black women to our world.

In conclusion, Lifting As They Climbed is an essential guidebook to influential Black women from Chicago's South and West Sides and their social, cultural, and artistic contributions to movements past and present. It offers a comprehensive understanding of their lives and achievements and serves as a call to action for those who wish to learn more about these remarkable individuals. By recognizing and celebrating the contributions of Black women to Chicago's history and culture, we can work towards a more just and equitable society for all.

Weight: 240g
Dimension: 139 x 217 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781642599015