A Black Woman's West
Book description
Born in the Barker mining district of central Montana Territory, Rose Beatrice Gordon (1883-1968) was the daughter of an African American chef and an emancipated slave who migrated to the West in the early 1880s. This book tells the story of the Gordon family―John, Anna, Robert, Rose, John Francis Jr.,…
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Why read it?
1 author picked A Black Woman's West as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
I came across this book while researching the Black experience in late 19th century Montana for my historical short story collection featuring "Stagecoach" Mary Fields. Johnson gives us a highly readable mix of historical fact and analysis blended with stories about the Gordon family and Rose in particular, and the important role they played in one small Montana town from the 1880s to the 1960s. By telling Rose’s story, he’s able to tell us the larger story of the Black community in the state, one not known for racial diversity, and it’s fascinating!