Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. CONTENTS ix
3. Introduction. A Southern Black Woman Democrat 1
4. Chapter 1. Origins of a Voice 25
5. Chapter 2. A Seed Takes Root: The New Black Democrats of Houston 51
6. Chapter 3. A Sure Foundation: Teachers and Role Models 67
7. Chapter 4. The Unknown Road: Pursuit of Independence 87
8. Chapter 5. Can This Marriage Be Saved? The Strains of Coalition Politics 108
9. Chapter 6. Victory! Black Power and Electoral Politics 126
10. Chapter 7. A Seat at the Table: Senator Jordan in Action 151
11. Chapter 8. Collision Course: Jordan Versus Graves 175
12. Chapter 9. A Father’s Death, a Black Woman’s Ambition 195
13. Chapter 10. A Bright Star in a Constellation: Black Feminist in Congress 211
14. Chapter 11. No Idle Spectator: Race and Watergate 231
15. Chapter 12. Race and Democracy: The 1975 Voting Rights Act and Party Politics 256
16. Chapter 13. Hitting the Black Glass Ceiling: The 1976 Democratic Party Convention 283
17. Chapter 14. From Virtue to Power: Last Battles 307
18. Chapter 15. Determined to Be Heard 330
19. Conclusion. She Changed the Nation 353
20. Notes 361
21. Selected Bibliography 441
22. Index 449
23. Acknowledgments 461