I regret that I did not get to this book in time for a review, and I recommend the other reviews here for a fuller look into the merits of the text.

This sounded so interesting - unfortunately I found it a very dry, more like an academic textbook. Writing non-fiction in an engaging and accessible way is an art, I’m finding… people like Bill Bryson do it brilliantly, but I’ve read several this year that have been almost textbooks and this was definitely one. 1/3 of the book was footnotes and citations, the language was dry and sadly left me speed reading before long, just to finish. I’m glad to see others have rated it much more highly though.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review - apologies for the delay in getting this done.

I enjoyed reading this book. I learned a lot about Maggie Walker and the Independent Order of St. Luke. I enjoyed that the book was framed in terms of the lending crisis of this decade. There are a lot of contemporary ties to the idea of banking on freedom, particular that for Maggie Walker banking was meant to be for Black women and by Black women. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history. This would be a great book to use in a history seminar.

I'm a big history nerd so I really liked this one. it did read like academic writing, but that's because it isn't a pop history book. the story of st. luke's and the women that made it happen is one that should be shared way more than it is, and this book was a deep dive into that story. I would recommend this for anyone interested in history who wouldn't be opposed to a more formal writing style. thanks to columbia university press and netgalley for the ARC.

Whenever I get a book about inspiring women in history, I guess I always expect something incredibly written, such as The Radium Girls. Oh Kate Moore, how you have spoiled me! The Radium Girls is a nonfiction historical tale, but somehow it's written in such a voice as if it's actually fiction. Except, you know, it's also real. I think that's how all nonfiction should be written. It brings the story to life. It tells it with emotion.

But back to where I was. Like I said, when I encounter an inspiring nonfiction story I always expect it to be written in an inspiring manner as well. This was the case with this book too. Come on, black women in the 19th century starting a bank – that's incredibly inspiring! I was so curious to find out. How and why, and how they managed to achieve this.

I still believe the The Independent Order of St. Luke was an incredible feat – both for the black community and women in general. A huge achievement. And it was also an interesting historical point. But heck, this story could have been told so much more interestingly. I will never understand telling nonfiction stories in the form of a history textbook. How many of us enjoyed our textbooks at school? Why would you want to stick to the straight facts when you can present it so much more interestingly? I mean, you can say that being grown up means being academic and taking off your rosy glasses. But I don't think growing up means accepting that life must be boring. I don't want to say this book was boring cause I was so excited to read it, and the story of the bank run by black women was truly inspiring. But I guess I was expecting to read about the hurtles they experienced, and not the types of insurance policies they offered.

I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy for review through NetGalley in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.

I found myself lost in Banking on Freedom, it is a comprehensive study and documentation of African American women in banking, beginning in the 1800's.

This thought provoking read depicts the struggles; how women endured racism and sexism, overcoming barriers and becoming our neighborhoods resources for financial stability.

After reading this you are more aware of the role women played in our financial, insurance and borrowing practices. One fact I didn’t know: the story of the St. Luke Bank in Richmond,Va: the first and only bank run by black women.

Very enlightening.