There was some resistance to a woman in this role, but Wilma had gained many fans in her ten years of organizing and raising money. She was twice re-elected in her own right. She also married again, to a very supportive husband, but had no more children.
While Wilma was a first, her career gives the author ample opportunity to discuss the role of gender in the Cherokee Nation. Suffice it to say that women as a group had more power than in the larger white society, but less independence. For more on this, you’ll have to read the book.
Health problems plagued her life. She had several diseases, some inherited, plus two kidney replacements. She was seriously injured in an auto-accident. These problems led to a relatively early death at age 64.
Before that fatal day, she was recognized with several meetings in the White House, had some famous friends, and received numerous awards. Hers was a life well worth leading, though it was also painful.
This book has lots of endnotes. Unfortunately, it has no index. If you don’t remember every person, or everything, you can’t look up earlier uses. While the book is a good read, without an index, it’s not useful for research.
Copyright © 2022 by Jo Freeman
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