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An essential guidebook to influential Black women from Chicago's South and West Sides, and their social, cultural, and artistic contributions to movements both past and present.
Geographically, historically, and politically,
Lifting As They Climbed gives readers an in-depth understanding of the numerous Black women, from the nineteenth century to today, who empower(ed) their neighborhoods and communities. Structured as a self-guided walking tour, with crisp maps and accessible narratives,
Lifting As They Climbed showcases seventy-five women-activists, artists, musicians, and more-through sites and landmarks on Chicago's South and West Sides.
Including Margaret Burroughs, Gwendolyn Brooks, Mahalia Jackson, and many others, this updated and extended edition is a testament to women whose stories 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, this book is an intervention against their erasure.
About the author
Mariame Kaba is an organizer, educator, librarian, and prison industrial complex (PIC) abolitionist who is active in movements for racial, gender, and transformative justice. Kaba is the founder and director of Project NIA, a grassroots abolitionist organization with a vision to end youth incarceration. Mariame co-leads the initiative Interrupting Criminalization, a project she co-founded with Andrea Ritchie in 2018.
Summary
An essential guidebook to influential Black women from Chicago’s South and West Sides, and their social, cultural, and artistic contributions to movements both past and present.
Geographically, historically, and politically, Lifting As They Climbed gives readers an in-depth understanding of the numerous Black women, from the nineteenth century to today, who empower(ed) their neighborhoods and communities. Structured as five self-guided tours, with crisp maps and accessible narratives, Lifting As They Climbed showcases seventy-eight women—activists, artists, musicians, and more—through sites and landmarks on Chicago’s South and West Sides.
Including Margaret Burroughs, Gwendolyn Brooks, Mahalia Jackson, and many others, this updated and extended edition is a testament to women whose stories 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, this book is an intervention against their erasure.
Foreword
• Use authors’ extensive network and social media platforms to promote book • Social media influencer campaign to promote the book • Pitch author for interviews on TV, radio and podcast • Pitch local Chicago media outlets • Organize Chicago walking tours and events with authors
