Carol Moseley Braun, the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate, has released a memoir titled Trailblazer: Perseverance in Life and Politics. The book, published June 24 by Hanover Square Press, recounts her historic journey in American politics and public service.
In the memoir, Moseley Braun reflects on a life of notable firsts—becoming the first Black person elected to an executive position in Cook County, Illinois, the first Black woman in the Senate, and later the first U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand.
The book highlights her early activism in Chicago, her involvement in the civil rights movement, and her run for president as the only woman in a field of men. She also shares memories of relationships formed during her career, including with Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.
Speaking with NPR, she addressed the expectations she faced in Congress: “I was not only a woman, I am Black, too… what you have is a set of expectations that border on the unreasonable.” She added that while she did her best to meet those expectations, it was not always possible.
