The Black Rose
A Novel
Readers rate it 3.5 (2 on Hardcover)
628 pages · Released Sep 1, 2000 · Ballantine Books
Content report card
The Black Rose parent’s guide: what’s inside
LGBTQ+ themes
Substance use
What it offers
Educational value
A note for parents
This historical fiction about Madam C.J. Walker is an inspiring story of entrepreneurship, resilience, and social advancement set against the backdrop of post-slavery America. The novel contains period-appropriate depictions of racism and its brutality, plus mature themes related to slavery and loss, making it better suited to teens than younger readers. It offers strong positive messages about ambition, generosity, and breaking barriers, with an exemplary role model in its protagonist.
Analyzed by AI · 1 month ago
Read it with your kids?
Rate it and suggest an age to help other parents.
From the publisher
“One of the most exciting novels of the year . . . The dramatic story of Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first black female millionaire.”—E. Lynn Harris Born to former slaves on a Louisiana plantation in 1867, Madam C.J. Walker rose from poverty and indignity to become America’s first black female millionaire, the head of... “One of the most exciting novels of the year . . . The dramatic story of Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first black female millionaire.”—E. Lynn Harris Born to former slaves on a Louisiana plantation in 1867, Madam C.J. Walker rose from poverty and indignity to become America’s first black female millionaire, the head of a hugely successful beauty company, and a leading philanthropist in African American causes. Renowned author Alex Haley became fascinated by the story of this extraordinary heroine, and before his death in 1992, he embarked on the research and outline of a major novel based on her life. With The Black Rose, critically acclaimed writer Tananarive Due brings Haley’s work to an inspiring completion. Blending documented history, vivid dialogue, and a sweeping fictionalized narrative, Tananarive Due paints a vivid portrait of this passionate and tenacious pioneer and the unforgettable era in which she lived. Praise for The Black Rose “An artfully framed page-turner.”—Essence “An impressive accomplishment . . . Due’s combination of historical study and fictional exploration endows this gripping tale with intimacy and emotional authenticity.”—The Miami Herald
Shelved under
- Fiction
- Literature
- General
- Biography
- History
- African American women executives
- Cosmetics industry
- Fiction, historical
- Fiction, historical, general
- Enslaved persons
Share this guide
ISBN 9780345444417 · Ballantine Books