I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women who Changed America [Hardcover]

Brian Lanker (Photographer), Maya Angelou (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1999

First published in 1989, I Dream a World is a collection of 75 portraits. It charts the achievements of a group of African-American women and their continued impact on the world. '

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This companion volume to an exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., documents the aspirations and achievements of 75 black women--from "unsung heroine" Priscilla L. Williams ("I had fourteen children. Seven of them was my sister's" sic) to former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm--in the arts, politics, business, academia, athletics and other fields. Photographs by Pulitzer Prize-winner Lanker are often striking, quietly revealing pride of character, whether borne with predatorial glamour (Leontyne Price) or guileless pleasure (Gwendolyn Brooks). His verbal portraits, spoken in the words of his subjects, are largely a disappointment, however--brief, surprisingly full of platitudes and lacking in personal signature, they tell a dramatic story of struggle and success in a flatly generic voice. But notable exceptions, such as law professor Eleanor Holmes Norton, comment on their lives with uncompromising intelligence ("Black people get their moral authority in this country not simply because they have suffered, but because they understand the suffering of other people").
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

A double-paged format of photograph, brief biographical information, and first-person accounts of women from all walks of life. The 75 photographs (and interviews) by Lanker were exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The book can function as art, history, literature, or social commentary. Though Barbara Jordon, Alice Walker, and Priscilla Williams inspired this white man's project, many other women provide the names he needed to produce the final 75. Amazingly beautiful and moving (to laughter or to tears), this book cannot be treated adequately on paper; go quickly and purchase copies for your library and yourself.
- Rebecca Sturm Kelm, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 172 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang; Rev Enl Su edition (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556708882
• ISBN-13: 978-1556708886
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 11.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,029,720 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It encourages one's own dreams! April 25, 2003

By Rebecca Bergfield

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I Dream a World is inspiring in its beautiful photography and the brief stories it shares about the women in the pictures. While it touches on their life stories, this book shares these women's thoughts. That is what draws me closer to this book each time I open it. The women inside, and the book itself, will make you think about your dreams and encourage you to work towards them.

No matter what your race or gender, give this book to anyone who needs encouragement. I especially enjoy recommending this book to young women who can learn a lot from the women within its pages.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE this book. I saw it on a commercial. January 21, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I saw this book on a commercial to help educate our black women, so I searched all over the place for this book and finally found it in a library in Texas. I looked over it and immediately decided that I was going to purchase it. It is extremely inspiring and my goal in life is to appear in one of the next additions of the book.

Sincerely, LaShanda Renee Conner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING BOOKS THAT I HAVE EVERY BOUGHT. July 20, 1997

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I have given this book as a gift several times to other women, to men, to blacks and to whites. Each recipient has raved about the inspiring women who are the subject of this wonderful book

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is Great "Her"story March 13, 2006

By S. R. Campbell

Format:Paperback

I was given this book when I was a freshman in architecture college. When I saw Ms Sklarek, I immediately wrote the publisher and got her addres and wrote her a letter. To my surprise she wrote back to me and her later inspired me to continue studying architecture. Now...17 years and three degrees later I came across her name again during a conversation and I decided to contact her again and again, she sent me her business card. Since our architectural firm has a committee that procures speakers, I plan to invite her to my firm to give a presentation on Women in Architecture. So, I said all that to say...not only should we find our mentors, but we should also communicate with them whenever we can.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The PERFECT hand-me-down March 3, 2006

By Rhonda Wright

Format:Hardcover

I was blessed to recieve this book in 1990 as a gift from a dear friend. Throughout the years this book has been a form of encouragement in my daily life through various things. Once my daughter turned ten we sat down together and read through I DREAM A WORLD, She was captivated. I have now passed this book on to my daughter and she proudly displays it in her room with trophies, clay art, pictures, and souviners.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful! November 29, 2005

By JHenzo

Format:Paperback

This is such a beautiful, respectable book! The portraits & stories of AA are profound & present fantastic role models for today's young AA girls. A hearty "thank you" to those responsible for compiling & publishing this book!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Complete Insiration September 24, 2000

By Tamara

Format:Paperback

I truly love this peice. Not only is this book Quite inspiring it is very informative and based on the history of this country. I am trying to find a way to get contact with this photographer? if any on has information on an e-mail address or a residing address that would allow me to rite Brian Lanker, I would love for them to contact me. thank for your help! (he is related to me.)

Tamara Michele Saenz

5.0 out of 5 stars I Dream a world: Portraits of Black Women who changed American June 18, 2013

By Brooks

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

It is a wealth of knowledge of those African American woman who contributed something to our society all under one beautiful book. Something that can be shared and even pass down to the next generation for this knowledge.