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For Beginners LLC
155 Main Street, Suite 211
Danbury, CT 06810 USA
www.forbeginnersbooks.com

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would not have had the courage to tackle this expansive subject without the knowledge, wisdom and blessings of my Historical Consultants, the beloved Dr. John Henrik Clarke and the passionate scholar Runoko Rashidi. In addition, Special Thanks is due: to Errol Sauti Collier for census and statistical research, Nailah Lee Randall for French translations, Yemi Touré and Ron Wilkins, international affairs consultants; to my enthusiastic, persistent research assistants: Amy Holloway, Dionne Bennett, Carol Moreno, Marq Hawkins, Felicia Howell and Estella Holman;
to my international contributors: Natalie Asfaha and Katharina Oguntoye in Germany, James Patterson and Lily Golden in Russia, Andy Reese Maddox and Sylvia Blanco-Green in Australia, Nadia Reveles in Surinam, June Giovanni, Kwesi Owusu and Menelik Shabazz in London, Regina Dominquez and Silvana Afram in Brazil, and Kouka Honore Queadrago in Burkina Faso;
to Dr. Daniel T. Williams, Tuskegee U’s archivist, Miriam Jiminez Roman and Betty Odibasian at the Schomburg, Reynoldo Reyes at the United Nations Photo Library, and a host of persevering librarians across the country;
to professors/authors Rhonda Cobham, Edward Scobie, Atty. LeGrand Clegg, Elaine Armour, Toni Trives and Carlos Guillermo (Cubena) Williams for sharing their research;
to collectors Charles L. Blockson, Rudy Calvo, Atty. LeGrand Clegg, John E. Collins, Cecil Fergerson, Janette Faulkner, Alden Kimbrough, Sarah and George Livingston, Tsan Merritt-Poree, Stanley Nelson, Lorraine Raglin and James Wheeler for sharing their stuff;
to Women Make Movies distribution co-op in New York for giving me access to films on Black women from around the world, and to Ada Griffin and Michelle Parkerson of Third World Newsreel for sharing transcripts from their film-in-progress;
to my manuscript readers: Elaine Armour, Cheryl Chisholm, D. Jean Collins, Arabella Chavers-Julien, Eric Cyrs, Imani Douglas and Raymond Shields, who challenged me to write it right;
to Beverly Hall, whose wonderful artwork rekindled my enthusiasm; to the early historions J.A. Rogers, Chancellor Williams, Cheikh Anta Diop and Drucilla Dunjee Houston who did the hard part;
and to all those not listed here who opened the path by sending materials, encouragement and returning my phone calls.

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

WHERE DID SHE COME FROM? (AND THEN WHERE DID SHE GO?)

NAMES BY WHICH SHE IS KNOWN

THE BEAUTY BANK

MADONNAS OR MADAMS?

WITCHES, WIVES, & WARRIORS

MOVERS & SHAKERS

TAKIN' CARE OF BIZNESS

DIVAS DON'T DIE

Bibliography

Credits

“I am travelling on a spiritual mission, but sometimes I get distracted.”

The Unborn Child
Julie Dash (USA)

For my young Sistuh friends
who are at their beginnings.