2 Books Like Smart University

In the book Menah Pratt tells her story with raw emotion, sharing pages from her diaries, poetry, handwritten letters, and photographs from her past. It feels as though you are a part of her life as she is beautifully vulnerable. I was struck by the story of her mother and father, as her own story doesn’t manifest without them. Her father, Theodore, was a nuclear physicist and immigrated from Sierra Leone to the U.S. He married her mother, Mildred, who was a professor of social work and the granddaughter of an enslaved woman from Alabama. Both of her parents earned doctoral degrees and believed education was vital. Her connection to her parents and how they followed her through the valleys and peaks of her life is riveting throughout the book. She expresses complicated relationships with each of them, being both drawn to them and wanting to run at times.

In Black Woman on Board, Nicol focuses on the life and legacy of Claudia Hampton, an African American woman on the California State University board of trustees. It was a lonely place to be in 1974. What I liked most about the book is how Nicol discussed the various forms of activism -- even quiet activism. Often, we see activism in limited ways, and Black Woman on Board shows its many dimensions and multi-faceted nature. Nicol's writing is inspirational, especially in a world where women are under attack. The book is also about quietly making lasting changes by working day after day with focus. Sometimes we give up, and Claudia Hampton's story is about resilience and persistence in accomplishing a goal. It is beautifully inspiring.