The field of rural history—especially rural women's history—is one that has seen exponential growth over the past two decades. The newest entry into this field from historian Cherisse Jones-Branch is not only an important contribution to this scholarship, but it also reasserts regional history's importance to the larger context of rural history. Rural women in the South, and especially African American women, were active in civil rights, reform, and activism, helping their communities at the local, regional, or state levels. Many of their stories and names are well known, while others are waiting to be remembered. This was especially evident in Arkansas; African American women sought to change and uplift their communities. These women whom Jones-Branch “lifts . . . from the obscurity of Arkansas rural history” navigated through, fought, and challenged the deep racism and segregation prevalent throughout the state (5). In Better Living by Their Own Bootstraps, Jones-Branch...
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