Editorial Content for We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
In this admirable book, Norah O’Donnell presents amplification of her many years of exploring and extolling the roles that women have played in the creation of a country that claimed honors as “We the People,” while often forgetting or ignoring the fact that women are people. Written with the assistance of Kate Andersen Brower, WE THE WOMEN depicts and reflects upon the sensitivity, intellect and anger of those who shaped the nation from its earliest years.
"WE THE WOMEN contains rare and commendable photographs of its heroes and incorporates thorough, diligent research to support O’Donnell’s well-chosen, strongly stated accounts."
Phillis Wheatley came to her new homeland from Africa in a voyage of such squalid conditions that many of its passengers did not survive. Shortly after becoming a servant in the Wheatley home, her intelligence and talents were noted and encouraged. As a teenager, she began writing poems calling for America’s freedom from Britain. Her works were recognized by George Washington, John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin. O’Donnell reports that she is now known as “the founding mother of African American literature.”
We learn that Orville and Wilbur Wright had a sister, Katharine, who not only managed their aviation innovations behind the scenes, but once saved Orville’s life after an injury during a flight in 1908. Her social skills underpinned her brothers’ success. While they were highly reserved, Katharine was gregarious and became their “public face” by meeting royalty and negotiating business contracts.
Mildred "Babe” Didrikson Zaharias, possibly “the greatest athlete who ever lived,” discovered her strengths in adolescence within a company that promoted national basketball teams. She was accepted after practicing daily, running and jumping over hedges. Babe won multiple prizes, shattered records in the 1932 Olympics, and later became a world champion golfer. She earned nearly every sports title available to women by the 1950s and was publicly praised by President Eisenhower.
O’Donnell, an award-winning journalist and longtime CBS anchor and correspondent, believes it’s her honor and duty to share these dynamic profiles, bringing to light accomplishments achieved despite barriers of race, national origin, and the stark discrimination that women have borne over centuries. Along with lesser-known people, included are some highly recognized revolutionaries. Among them are Eleanor Roosevelt, who is known as “the great agitator” for women’s rights; Margaret Sanger and Katharine McCormick, pioneers in the field of birth control; and the suffragists who risked physical harm as they campaigned for women’s voting rights.
WE THE WOMEN contains rare and commendable photographs of its heroes and incorporates thorough, diligent research to support O’Donnell’s well-chosen, strongly stated accounts. Her absorbing assemblage gives much-needed new life to the women of America’s history, offering satisfaction and, in some cases, pleasant surprises for contemporary readers across a wide spectrum.
Teaser
Over a decades-long, distinguished career, award-winning journalist Norah O’Donnell has made it her mission to shed light on untold women’s stories. Now, in honor of America’s 250th birthday, O’Donnell focuses that passion on the American heroines who helped change the course of history. WE THE WOMEN presents a fresh look at American history through the eyes of women, introducing us to inspiring patriots who demanded that the country live up to the promises made 250 years ago in the Declaration of Independence: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Since the signing of that document, the pressing question from women has been: Why don’t those unalienable rights apply to us?
Promo
Over a decades-long, distinguished career, award-winning journalist Norah O’Donnell has made it her mission to shed light on untold women’s stories. Now, in honor of America’s 250th birthday, O’Donnell focuses that passion on the American heroines who helped change the course of history. WE THE WOMEN presents a fresh look at American history through the eyes of women, introducing us to inspiring patriots who demanded that the country live up to the promises made 250 years ago in the Declaration of Independence: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Since the signing of that document, the pressing question from women has been: Why don’t those unalienable rights apply to us?
About the Book
A vivid portrait of the unsung American women from 1776 to today who changed the course of history in their fight for freedom and helped shape a more perfect union.
Over a decades-long, distinguished career, award-winning journalist Norah O’Donnell has made it her mission to shed light on untold women’s stories. Now, in honor of America’s 250th birthday, O’Donnell focuses that passion on the American heroines who helped change the course of history.
WE THE WOMEN presents a fresh look at American history through the eyes of women, introducing us to inspiring patriots who demanded that the country live up to the promises made 250 years ago in the Declaration of Independence: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Since the signing of that document, the pressing question from women has been: Why don’t those unalienable rights apply to us?
Through extensive research and interviews, as well as historical documents and old photos, O’Donnell curates a compelling portrait of these fierce fighters for freedom. From Mary Katherine Goddard, who printed the first signed Declaration of Independence, to the Forten family women, who were active in the abolition and suffrage movements and were considered the “Black Founders” of Philadelphia, to the first women who served in the armed forces even before they had the right to vote, O’Donnell brings these extraordinary women together for the first time, and in doing so writes the American story anew.
Audiobook available, read by Norah O'Donnell
