Author: Ruth P. Watson
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: 2023
Pages: 303
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: In the vein of The Personal Librarian and The House of Eve, a “remarkable and stirring novel” (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author) based on the inspiring true story of Virginia’s Black Wall Street and the indomitable Maggie Lena Walker, the daughter of a formerly enslaved woman who became the first Black woman to establish and preside over a bank in the United States.
Maggie Lena Walker was ambitious and unafraid. Her childhood in 19th-century Virginia helping her mother with her laundry service opened her eyes to the overwhelming discrepancy between the Black residents and her mother’s affluent white clients. She vowed to not only secure the same kind of home and finery for herself, but she would also help others in her community achieve the same.
With her single-minded determination, Maggie buckled down and went from schoolteacher to secretary-treasurer of the Independent Order of St. Luke, founder of a newspaper, a bank, and a department store where Black customers were treated with respect. With the help of influential friends like W.E.B. DuBois and Mary McLeod, she revolutionized Richmond in ways that are still felt today. Now, “with rich period detail and emotional impact” (Tracey Enerson Wood, author of The Engineer’s Wife), her riveting full story is finally revealed in this stirring and intimate novel.
My Review: Maggie Lena Walker was the first African-American woman to have founded and presided over a bank in the United States of America. In this historical novel, Maggie was the daughter of a laundress, who was once a former slave. Maggie originally became a teacher. However, she was forced to quit her job when she became engaged. After she married, Maggie joined the Order of St. Luke. Under the order, she would establish a newspaper company, shops, and even a bank.
I admit I had never heard of Maggie Lena Walker before I read this book. After reading A Right Worthy Woman, I came away with much admiration, awe, and respect for her. In this novel, Maggie worked tirelessly to help her African-American community, especially women. She was not only an entrepreneur, but she was also a Civil Rights activist and fought for the women’s suffrage movement. She believed in equality not only between races but also between genders. She believed that women should have rights as men. I also liked how she viewed marriage to be equal. I also admired her faith and devotion to God because she believed she was doing God’s work on Earth. Therefore, Maggie is a very strong woman who deserved respect. She never let any of her personal hardships get the best of her and continued to help improve the well-being of others.
Overall, this novel is about social justice, faith, and family. I like how the author gave depth to each of her characters. My favorite character was Maggie’s husband, Armstead. Armstead was very supportive of Maggie in everything she did. It was clear that they had a loving, respectful, and happy marriage. A Right Worthy Woman is also very beautifully written, and I loved its gorgeous prose. The only thing I did not like about it was that it seemed rushed at times. Nevertheless, A Right Worthy Woman was a mesmerizing novel, and I couldn’t put it down! I am so glad to have discovered this little known but important figure, and it inspired me to do more research on Maggie Lena Walker! I recommend this for fans of By Her Own Design, Carolina Built, and The Great Mrs. Elias! A Right Worthy Woman is an extraordinary tribute to an overshadowed but noteworthy woman!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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