Lisa Levenstein Libri

Focusing on the experiences of poor black women in Philadelphia, the book explores their struggles to access government benefits amidst societal constraints. As these women navigated welfare offices, courts, and public services, they faced increasing scrutiny and limitations imposed by public officials. Levenstein critiques the damaging narratives surrounding their "dependency" and their children's "illegitimacy," challenging stereotypes and reshaping the understanding of postwar U.S. history and the urban crisis.

From an award-winning scholar, a vibrant portrait of a riotous age in the history of the feminist movement