A cornerstone of black feminist and political theory, this collection of essays focuses on racial progress and women's rights. A Voice from the South, written in 1892, is regarded as the first statement of black feminism. Despite their imprint of nineteenth-century social thought, these essays possess an urgent, modern tone, characterized by an emphasis on debate and a scintillating wit. Topics include the importance of women's education as well as African Americans' economic roles and their literary representation.
A noted member of Washington, D. C.'s African American community, Anna Julia Cooper (1858 - 1964) rose to prominence as a leading scholar, educator, and activist at the end of the nineteenth century. Born into slavery, she was the fourth African American woman to earn a doctoral degree, receiving a PhD in history from the University of Paris-Sorbonne in 1924. This edition includes an informative Introduction to Cooper's life and work by Janet Neary.
Reprint of The Aldine Printing House, Ohio, 1892 edition.

Table of Contents for A Voice from the South

Part First
Soprano Obligato
Womanhood a Vital Element in the Regeneration and Progress of a Race
The Higher Education of Women
"Woman vs. the Indian"
The Status of Woman in America

Part Second
Tutti Ad Libitum
Has America a Race Problem; If so, How Can It Best Be Solved?
The Negro as Presented in American Literature
What are We Worth?
The Gain From a Belief