Dorothy Pitman Hughes and the Transformative Power of Black Community Activism
October 19, 2020
University of Pittsburgh history professor Lovett (Conceiving the Future) revisits the social justice activism of Ms. magazine cofounder Dorothy Pitman Hughes in this brisk biography. Born in 1938 and raised in rural Georgia, Hughes moved to New York City as a nightclub singer in 1957. She also worked part-time for the civil rights organization CORE and, in 1967, founded the West 80th Street Day Care Center, where she created “economically and racially integrated classes” and organized a campaign to stop local businesses from raising food prices just before welfare checks were issued. Gloria Steinem profiled the center for New York magazine in 1969, and her subsequent speaking tours with Hughes illustrated the possibility for a racially integrated feminist movement, Lovett writes, though Steinem became the representative face of feminism, which in turn became synonymous with white women’s needs. Meanwhile, Hughes remained committed to Black empowerment, promoting Black-owned businesses and community activism in Harlem; her hometown of Charles Junction, Ga.; and in Jacksonville, Fla., where she retired. Lovett skimps somewhat on the personal details of Hughes’s life, but makes a persuasive case for her importance to the fights for gender and racial equality and child welfare. Readers will cherish this accessible portrait of a lesser-known civil rights figure.
Starred review from December 1, 2020
Every feminist knows the iconic photograph of Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes raising their fists in interracial solidarity. While readers know Steinem's life inside and out, the story of Hughes (b. 1938), and her accomplishments as an activist, have faded into obscurity. Historian Lovett's (Conceiving the Future; When We Were Free to Be) biography of Hughes brings much-needed attention to her life and highlights her struggles with both racism and sexism. Born in rural Georgia, Hughes moved to New York as a teenager to pursue a career as a nightclub singer and worked as a maid to support herself. After struggling to find childcare for her children, she opened her own daycare center. It became a model for community-oriented centers and she became an activist for that cause, meeting Gloria Steinem when the journalist interviewed her for a story. The two feminists toured the country speaking together for years, although Steinem received much more attention. Hughes went on to own a copy and office supply store in Harlem and fight a losing battle against gentrification there, retiring to Florida where she still lives today. VERDICT This essential, well-written biography fills a huge gap in the history of American feminism.--Kate Stewart, Tucson
Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
December 1, 2020
Pictured with Gloria Steinem in one of the most iconic images of the second-wave feminist movement is Dorothy Pitman Hughes. While many could recognize her due to the famous photograph, mainstream white feminism has ignored her enormous contributions to the movement. Lovett brings the attention deserved to this important woman and the work she did to advance the rights of all women, including creating the first shelter for battered women in New York City, working as a community organizer, and educating people across the country on race, childcare, and feminism. Lovett's storytelling brings Pitman Hughes's career and activism to the center of the narrative, ready to inspire a future generation of feminist leaders. This biography paints a vivid picture of the struggles Pitman Hughes fought against as a Black female activist, and brings readers right alongside her in her work. In this concise but evocative biography, Lovett has carved out a place for Pitman Hughes that gives her the honor and prestige she deserves.Women in Focus: The 19th in 2020
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