South Carolina’s Matilda Evans is a sweeping tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Matilda Arabella Evans, the first African American woman licensed to practice medicine in South Carolina. The book traces her incredible journey from humble beginnings in the post-slavery South to becoming a fierce advocate for public health, education, and civil rights. Written by Walter B. Curry Jr., Anusha Ghosh, and Beverly Aiken Muhammad, the biography weaves together archival research, family history, and personal recollections to offer a detailed account of Evans’s personal resolve, her pioneering medical work, and her tireless efforts to uplift her community.

Reading this book was both moving and sobering. The writing is clean and clear, sometimes formal but never dry. What stood out most was the immense care the authors took in documenting not just Evans’s achievements, but the deeply rooted racial and historical forces she had to navigate. From her educational path at Schofield and the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, to the establishment of the Taylor Lane Hospital and Evans Clinic, her story is full of persistence and purpose. I was struck by the humility in her work. She didn’t seek the spotlight. She wanted people, especially poor Black families, to receive decent care. You can’t read this without feeling her heart. It honestly made me reflect on how easily we forget the giants who walked before us.

The book provides exhaustive detail at times about family lineage or local historical context that is informative, but slows the narrative. I found myself wishing for more intimate glimpses into Evans’s own thoughts, struggles, and inner life because what we are given is so fascinating. The book shows how she used her influence to fight for systemic change, founding the Negro Health Association, publishing her own journal, and confronting health inequality head-on. The authors’ deep personal connection to Evans adds another layer of warmth and respect, which I came to appreciate more as the chapters unfolded.

I’d recommend South Carolina’s Matilda Evans to anyone interested in women’s history, Black history, public health, or just good old-fashioned grit. It’s especially relevant for students and professionals in medicine, teaching, or social work. If you’ve ever doubted the power of one person to change the world, Dr. Matilda Evans’s life will shake you out of it.

Pages: 196 | ASIN : B0DZJ5FKRB