Proud Shoes: The Story of an American Family (Black Women Writers Series)

"Proud Shoes: The Story of an American Family (Black Women Writers Series)" is a profound exploration of racial and gender equality, skillfully penned by legendary civil rights activist Pauli Murray. First published in 1956 and reissued in 1999, this compelling narrative delves deep into the tumultuous history of Murray's ancestors during the antebellum South, Reconstruction, and beyond. Through the personal sagas of her maternal grandparents, the book paints a vivid portrait of survival and resistance. It portrays Cornelia Smith, a slave whose beauty sparked violent passions, and Robert Fitzgerald, a free black man who married a white woman in 1840. Murray's account not only sheds light on her family's complex heritage but also on broader social dynamics that continue to influence America today. Ideal for college students, "Proud Shoes" encourages critical reflection on how the past informs contemporary issues of race and gender.