A Voice from the South

First published in 1892, ‘A Voice from the South’ is a collection of essays focusing on racial progress and women’s rights by Anna Julia Cooper (1858–1964), an American author, educator, sociologist, speaker, Black liberation activist, and one of the most distinguished African-American scholars in United States history. A noted member of Washington, D.C.’s African-American community, Anna Julia Cooper 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 Ph.D. in history from the University of Paris-Sorbonne in 1924. It is regarded as the first statement of black feminism. Despite their imprint on nineteenth-century social thought, these essays possess an urgent, modern tone, characterized by a focus 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.