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This Thread of Gold: A Celebration of Black Womanhood
“Beautiful… A gift to ourselves and to the world.”— Mikki Kendall, New York Times bestselling author of Hood Feminism
From gender adviser to the UN Catherine Joy White comes This Thread of Gold, a lyrical celebration of the history of Black women who challenged stereotypes through film, politics, activism, and beyond.
This immersive and empowering read blends history, reporting, and personal stories to weave a gorgeous tapestry from the resilience of Black women. As White writes, “Black women are not victims. Black women are alchemists, spinning gold from a life of hardship. . . . This book is dedicated solely to Black women surviving, thriving, and glowing.”
White’s book features revolutionary women from across time and space, liberating them from reductive stereotypes like “the strong Black woman,” and allowing space for emotional nuance, individual motivation, and richness of expression. White offers fresh insights into the work of Beyoncé and Nina Simone, Shirley Chisholm and Meghan Markle, as well as the work of those who resisted in secret—in kitchens, in churches, and through trusted networks. By weaving these women together, White reveals new ways to understand Black womanhood and she is sure to inspire new generations of readers.
From gender adviser to the UN Catherine Joy White comes This Thread of Gold, a lyrical celebration of the history of Black women who challenged stereotypes through film, politics, activism, and beyond.
This immersive and empowering read blends history, reporting, and personal stories to weave a gorgeous tapestry from the resilience of Black women. As White writes, “Black women are not victims. Black women are alchemists, spinning gold from a life of hardship. . . . This book is dedicated solely to Black women surviving, thriving, and glowing.”
White’s book features revolutionary women from across time and space, liberating them from reductive stereotypes like “the strong Black woman,” and allowing space for emotional nuance, individual motivation, and richness of expression. White offers fresh insights into the work of Beyoncé and Nina Simone, Shirley Chisholm and Meghan Markle, as well as the work of those who resisted in secret—in kitchens, in churches, and through trusted networks. By weaving these women together, White reveals new ways to understand Black womanhood and she is sure to inspire new generations of readers.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 22, 2023
72 people are currently reading
8191 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 9, 2025
this book was beautifully written but i feel like it may have been better as poetry
March 9, 2026
3.75⭐️! i’ll start by saying this was very good and very emotional. going into this i expected a collection of stories about black women, known & lesser known, past & present. and while those were intertwined throughout, it reads more poetic memoir with women that have inspired the author.
she does narrate the audiobook and you can hear the emotion and care that went into this book, but definitely different than expected!
she does narrate the audiobook and you can hear the emotion and care that went into this book, but definitely different than expected!
February 4, 2024
Summary: Dive headfirst into empowering stories as Catherine Joy White unfurls the tales of Black women who've defied stereotypes with resilience and grace. From the silver screen to the hallowed halls of politics, from activism to art, White's book celebrates the joys and sorrows of Black womanhood. With a blend of history, personal anecdotes, and insightful commentary, "This Thread of Gold" pays homage to the trailblazers, the visionaries, and the unsung heroes who've shaped the world.
Pros:
🌟 A shining star in the constellation of Black history books! "This Thread of Gold" is not just a read; it's an experience—a journey through time and space that leaves you feeling enlightened, uplifted, and empowered.
📚 Educational and empowering, this book is like a compass guiding readers through the reality of Black womanhood. From Beyoncé to Nina Simone, Shirley Chisholm to Meghan Markle, White's story celebrates the diversity and resilience of Black women across generations and geographies.
💪🏾 Raw and unapologetic, White's prose cuts through stereotypes like a hot knife through butter, offering fresh insights and perspectives on Black womanhood. No more "strong Black woman" tropes—just real, nuanced, and unfiltered stories.
Cons:
😅 The only downside? You might need a tissue or two handy for the emotional rollercoaster ride. From tears of laughter to tears of inspiration, "This Thread of Gold" is a whirlwind of emotions that'll leave you reaching for the Kleenex.
In conclusion, "This Thread of Gold" is not just a book; it's a story of resilience, strength, and beauty of Black womanhood. Catherine Joy White's masterful storytelling and insightful commentary shine a spotlight on the heroes and trailblazers who've shaped history. So, grab your copy, buckle up, and get ready for a journey that'll leave you inspired, enlightened, and filled with a renewed sense of purpose.
Disclaimer: A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for providing me with this eARC. All opinions expressed are as vibrant and powerful as the stories within these pages—unapologetically authentic and bursting with life! 🌟📖
Pros:
🌟 A shining star in the constellation of Black history books! "This Thread of Gold" is not just a read; it's an experience—a journey through time and space that leaves you feeling enlightened, uplifted, and empowered.
📚 Educational and empowering, this book is like a compass guiding readers through the reality of Black womanhood. From Beyoncé to Nina Simone, Shirley Chisholm to Meghan Markle, White's story celebrates the diversity and resilience of Black women across generations and geographies.
💪🏾 Raw and unapologetic, White's prose cuts through stereotypes like a hot knife through butter, offering fresh insights and perspectives on Black womanhood. No more "strong Black woman" tropes—just real, nuanced, and unfiltered stories.
Cons:
😅 The only downside? You might need a tissue or two handy for the emotional rollercoaster ride. From tears of laughter to tears of inspiration, "This Thread of Gold" is a whirlwind of emotions that'll leave you reaching for the Kleenex.
In conclusion, "This Thread of Gold" is not just a book; it's a story of resilience, strength, and beauty of Black womanhood. Catherine Joy White's masterful storytelling and insightful commentary shine a spotlight on the heroes and trailblazers who've shaped history. So, grab your copy, buckle up, and get ready for a journey that'll leave you inspired, enlightened, and filled with a renewed sense of purpose.
Disclaimer: A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for providing me with this eARC. All opinions expressed are as vibrant and powerful as the stories within these pages—unapologetically authentic and bursting with life! 🌟📖
September 3, 2023
Part history, part manifesto, Catherine Joy White's This Thread of Gold interrogates the ways Black women have been charactised and represented over the course of hundreds of years and, through telling the stories of myriad remarkable women, encourages the reader to expand their perception. For Black readers, it is an affirming celebration of all that Black women have been, are, and will be; for white readers, it is an opportunity to listen, learn and reflect on how living at the intersection of being female and being Black affects how you experience the world.
'Black women have always been appropriated, talked over, misrepresented and mistranslated,' writes White, and this book is her opportunity to tell her own story - and those of an assortment of world-renowned and less famous women who have inspired her - without interruption or contradiction. She ruminates on how each one has challenged expectations of people who look like them through 'acts of glittering defiance', whether that be quietly subverting cultural depictions of Black 'mammies', challenging the status quo as pioneers in sport, work, public office and activism. She uncovers and celebrates the fascinating stories of women who have been largely forgotten by history, such as actress Hattie McDaniel, who had to navigate a very white Hollywood in Jim Crow era America whilst simultaneously fielding criticism from the Black community.
The title 'This Thread of Gold' refers to the thread which binds Black women to each other throughout history and across continents, but it could also refer to but also to the narrative, which gathers disparate stories and experiences and, in sewing them into the tapestry that is this book, illuminates the connections and parallels between a British politician and an American trans activist, a racist charicature on a bottle of pancake syrup and the first Black Oscar winner, Beyoncé and a Second World War spy, a nineteenth century cookbook author and a pair of French intellectuals.
Although White is a self-confessed private person who finds it hard to open up, the way she shares her own experiences is raw, honest and vulnerable, and these recollections provide a framework around which to weave the stories of other women. Throughout the book, she unpicks the tropes that have limited and harmed Black women - including herself - and provides palpable evidence for the damage that characterising them as 'strong' can do for instance, such as leading to far higher rates of maternal mortality. White speaks warmly to Black women, reassuring them that 'Resilience is woven into our DNA. We wear it proudly, and yet we must not be afraid of sharing our pain.'
'What is more important than anything I can do - anything any of us can do - is that in weaving this thread of gold we are freeing other Black women to do the same. We are building a tapestry that does not force us to choose.' The thread of gold is a thread of Black excellence which blazes a trail and makes it clear that there is no one way for a Black woman to be. White believes passionately that Black women have a collective responsibility to take up that thread- to reclaim the narrative and define their femininity and their Blackness on their own terms, forcing the world to make space for them - and to do it while recognising the work of those who came before and paving the way for those who will follow. This Thread of Gold is a clarion call.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dialogue Books for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
'Black women have always been appropriated, talked over, misrepresented and mistranslated,' writes White, and this book is her opportunity to tell her own story - and those of an assortment of world-renowned and less famous women who have inspired her - without interruption or contradiction. She ruminates on how each one has challenged expectations of people who look like them through 'acts of glittering defiance', whether that be quietly subverting cultural depictions of Black 'mammies', challenging the status quo as pioneers in sport, work, public office and activism. She uncovers and celebrates the fascinating stories of women who have been largely forgotten by history, such as actress Hattie McDaniel, who had to navigate a very white Hollywood in Jim Crow era America whilst simultaneously fielding criticism from the Black community.
The title 'This Thread of Gold' refers to the thread which binds Black women to each other throughout history and across continents, but it could also refer to but also to the narrative, which gathers disparate stories and experiences and, in sewing them into the tapestry that is this book, illuminates the connections and parallels between a British politician and an American trans activist, a racist charicature on a bottle of pancake syrup and the first Black Oscar winner, Beyoncé and a Second World War spy, a nineteenth century cookbook author and a pair of French intellectuals.
Although White is a self-confessed private person who finds it hard to open up, the way she shares her own experiences is raw, honest and vulnerable, and these recollections provide a framework around which to weave the stories of other women. Throughout the book, she unpicks the tropes that have limited and harmed Black women - including herself - and provides palpable evidence for the damage that characterising them as 'strong' can do for instance, such as leading to far higher rates of maternal mortality. White speaks warmly to Black women, reassuring them that 'Resilience is woven into our DNA. We wear it proudly, and yet we must not be afraid of sharing our pain.'
'What is more important than anything I can do - anything any of us can do - is that in weaving this thread of gold we are freeing other Black women to do the same. We are building a tapestry that does not force us to choose.' The thread of gold is a thread of Black excellence which blazes a trail and makes it clear that there is no one way for a Black woman to be. White believes passionately that Black women have a collective responsibility to take up that thread- to reclaim the narrative and define their femininity and their Blackness on their own terms, forcing the world to make space for them - and to do it while recognising the work of those who came before and paving the way for those who will follow. This Thread of Gold is a clarion call.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dialogue Books for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
March 16, 2026
catherine really is a joy, am i white?
i loved this. i thought it was a beautiful love letter to black womanhood. it made both great points that i was emphatically nodding along with, as well as highlight aspects of the black experience that i appreciated learning about
the audiobook was super well done by the author. it enhanced my reading experience tenfold. she had so much gravitas to her delivery. you could tell she is extremely passionate about what she’s writing and the women she is writing about. i’m very glad she’s the one who read this rather than somebody else
however, there were some inconsistent details? the audio would say different dates or statistics than what was in the book. this also happened a few times in only the text as well; there’d be one date listed and then it would be different in the next paragraph. additionally, there were some portions of the text, anywhere between a few lines to half a paragraph, that were omitted from the audio. this didn’t make the book worse to me, but it was just something i noticed. i wouldn’t have even thought about this if i’d read this as either solely the text or solely the audio, but this mismatch occasionally confused me and now i don’t know which of those statistics are actually accurate
i appreciate how vulnerable catherine is in this book. she sheds light on the hardships for black women in a general context, but then also gives insight on how she herself has experienced these types of hardships in her own life. i also like how she would share her personal reflections on the topics she was covering and use them as segues into the next point. similarly, i appreciate what she says about mental heath in a general sense and her own specific experience
i absolutely adored the letter she wrote to her future daughter. it was extremely touching and beautifully articulated
i want to give some thoughts relating to my interpretation of the theme and overall metaphor of this book:
the thread of gold represents the women who came before us. their achievements, sense of self, desire for justice, and drive to change the world make up the tapestry of feminist history. the historical legacies of every woman are the thread which weaves through the tapestry. and, as catherine says, ‘it is our collective responsibility to take up that thread’.
we must not forget these women, never let their portions of the tapestry fade into obscurity, and continue the work they’ve done. the tapestry is forever unfinished because there will always be women that come after us and continue the work our foremothers started
these women (aka absolute queens) include: nancy green, shirley anita chisholm, diane abbott, stacey abrams, hattie mcdaniel, michaela coel, rosa parks, claudette colvin, victoire elodie quidal, michelle obama, yara shahidi, audre lorde, nina simone, queen yaa asantewaa, wangari maathai, florynce kennedy, gladys bentley, mary fields, ketanji brown jackson, alice dearing, mary mcleod bethune, kathleen wrasama, rhaune laslett, beverley bryan, jasmine crockett, catherine herself, and a multitude of others
the thread ties us all together; all of us who have experienced the oppression and hardship of womanhood are connected by this thread. us continuing to fight for justice and the society we deserve transforms that thread into the most illuminating gold. it can never be cut or frayed so long as we continue to support each other. it is imperative that we lift our fellow women up so that they may continue to weave their portion of the tapestry into the most beautiful work possible, whatever design they may choose to create, choice with no restrictions
black women, like all women, should not be denied the right to normal negative emotion in order to prove that they are ‘strong’. one moment of understandable weakness in times of genuine and severe struggle does not make a person wholly weak. it makes them human. and women deserve to be seen as worthy of being human.
we should be permitted to express our pain and suffering without that completely undermining our strength or the strength of other women, and it should not be rationale for us to be discredited.
black women are strong. however, that strength should not be seen as justification to not take their pain seriously or to disallow them from being vulnerable. their strength should not be expected, it should be admired
thank you to catherine for writing this and being the person that she is doing the thing that she does. we need more people like her in the world
”It is thanks to the women who came before—our grandmothers—that we know where we come from, thanks to them that we can build upward and outward, thanks to them that we can hold our heads high, skyward to the stars and out to the sea, as we continue to pull tight the thread that forms our glittering trail of gold.”
i loved this. i thought it was a beautiful love letter to black womanhood. it made both great points that i was emphatically nodding along with, as well as highlight aspects of the black experience that i appreciated learning about
the audiobook was super well done by the author. it enhanced my reading experience tenfold. she had so much gravitas to her delivery. you could tell she is extremely passionate about what she’s writing and the women she is writing about. i’m very glad she’s the one who read this rather than somebody else
however, there were some inconsistent details? the audio would say different dates or statistics than what was in the book. this also happened a few times in only the text as well; there’d be one date listed and then it would be different in the next paragraph. additionally, there were some portions of the text, anywhere between a few lines to half a paragraph, that were omitted from the audio. this didn’t make the book worse to me, but it was just something i noticed. i wouldn’t have even thought about this if i’d read this as either solely the text or solely the audio, but this mismatch occasionally confused me and now i don’t know which of those statistics are actually accurate
i appreciate how vulnerable catherine is in this book. she sheds light on the hardships for black women in a general context, but then also gives insight on how she herself has experienced these types of hardships in her own life. i also like how she would share her personal reflections on the topics she was covering and use them as segues into the next point. similarly, i appreciate what she says about mental heath in a general sense and her own specific experience
i absolutely adored the letter she wrote to her future daughter. it was extremely touching and beautifully articulated
i want to give some thoughts relating to my interpretation of the theme and overall metaphor of this book:
the thread of gold represents the women who came before us. their achievements, sense of self, desire for justice, and drive to change the world make up the tapestry of feminist history. the historical legacies of every woman are the thread which weaves through the tapestry. and, as catherine says, ‘it is our collective responsibility to take up that thread’.
we must not forget these women, never let their portions of the tapestry fade into obscurity, and continue the work they’ve done. the tapestry is forever unfinished because there will always be women that come after us and continue the work our foremothers started
these women (aka absolute queens) include: nancy green, shirley anita chisholm, diane abbott, stacey abrams, hattie mcdaniel, michaela coel, rosa parks, claudette colvin, victoire elodie quidal, michelle obama, yara shahidi, audre lorde, nina simone, queen yaa asantewaa, wangari maathai, florynce kennedy, gladys bentley, mary fields, ketanji brown jackson, alice dearing, mary mcleod bethune, kathleen wrasama, rhaune laslett, beverley bryan, jasmine crockett, catherine herself, and a multitude of others
the thread ties us all together; all of us who have experienced the oppression and hardship of womanhood are connected by this thread. us continuing to fight for justice and the society we deserve transforms that thread into the most illuminating gold. it can never be cut or frayed so long as we continue to support each other. it is imperative that we lift our fellow women up so that they may continue to weave their portion of the tapestry into the most beautiful work possible, whatever design they may choose to create, choice with no restrictions
black women, like all women, should not be denied the right to normal negative emotion in order to prove that they are ‘strong’. one moment of understandable weakness in times of genuine and severe struggle does not make a person wholly weak. it makes them human. and women deserve to be seen as worthy of being human.
we should be permitted to express our pain and suffering without that completely undermining our strength or the strength of other women, and it should not be rationale for us to be discredited.
black women are strong. however, that strength should not be seen as justification to not take their pain seriously or to disallow them from being vulnerable. their strength should not be expected, it should be admired
thank you to catherine for writing this and being the person that she is doing the thing that she does. we need more people like her in the world
”It is thanks to the women who came before—our grandmothers—that we know where we come from, thanks to them that we can build upward and outward, thanks to them that we can hold our heads high, skyward to the stars and out to the sea, as we continue to pull tight the thread that forms our glittering trail of gold.”
March 15, 2024
I have no words to express how much I enjoyed reading about all of the black women who helped to shape our world into what it is today. This book was amazingly written. I highly recommend it!!
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for gifting me this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for gifting me this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 15, 2026
I had to give this 5 stars, what a remarkable book. the author has written a tapestry of the life of not just her life but other black women. At times I was in tears reading the stories of what they went through, the struggles, pain and endurance through their lives of battles that they came through but the scars left and memories to be passed down generations.
Some parts I sat in shock that in the 21st century UK how black women were less likely to report rape, how women were treated in America by white men during the civil rights movement. I am sitting here today with such admiration for everyone of these ladies but also with sadness at they way they have and continue to be treated, because of skin colour. The fight these brave, heroic women endured to be heard, to retell their stories to bind a thread for black women to have the equal rights they absolutely deserve and to walk with their heads held high but also to be recognised for who they are, the talents that they have brought but so sadly do not get the recognition they absolutely deserve.
The story of Nina Simone and the two songs
mentioned in the book, (Mississippi goddam & Four women) I had to listen to, I unashamedly admit I cried at Four women, I could feel the hurt, the pain in such a beautiful voice. The struggles Nina went though and standing up for black women to give them a voice alongside civil right supporters, is an incredible thing through the treatment she received through prejudice and her own parentage.
The struggles with childbirth that black women are 3 times more likely to die in childbirth in the Uk and in America it is 3 to 5 times more than white women. These statistics are horrifying and surely with such advances in medicine today there should be studys to find out why this is happening are important regardless of the colour of your skin. I felt angry at the treatment these women have received. To say a black woman feels no pain is actually appalling. Women and babies dying and treatment for black women during pregnancy and childbirth is less than what a white women recieves is absolutely disgusting in this day and age.
My heart broke for all those mothers who had lost their stillborn babies, the mothers who died in childbirth and the parents who had lost their children at the hands of the authorities who are supposed to serve and protect. The battles these women went through for justice and to have their voices heard and yet the discrimination is still there.
I absolutely would recommend this book, it is an eye-opener to the prejudices and the fight black women have on a daily basis which is absolutely abhorent and the battles to get to where they are now and recieve the acknowledgement in the history books for their fight for liberation, to be heard, to be accepted and to be treated equally with all women regardless of skin colour.
This book is an inspiration to all women, the author Catherine Joy White has wrote with words of passion from the heart, her words throughout the pages are truly inspirational, this book will certainly make you look at things in a different way, but also realise how backwards and racist our country seems to be regarding the colour of someones skin and their sex.
Some parts I sat in shock that in the 21st century UK how black women were less likely to report rape, how women were treated in America by white men during the civil rights movement. I am sitting here today with such admiration for everyone of these ladies but also with sadness at they way they have and continue to be treated, because of skin colour. The fight these brave, heroic women endured to be heard, to retell their stories to bind a thread for black women to have the equal rights they absolutely deserve and to walk with their heads held high but also to be recognised for who they are, the talents that they have brought but so sadly do not get the recognition they absolutely deserve.
The story of Nina Simone and the two songs
mentioned in the book, (Mississippi goddam & Four women) I had to listen to, I unashamedly admit I cried at Four women, I could feel the hurt, the pain in such a beautiful voice. The struggles Nina went though and standing up for black women to give them a voice alongside civil right supporters, is an incredible thing through the treatment she received through prejudice and her own parentage.
The struggles with childbirth that black women are 3 times more likely to die in childbirth in the Uk and in America it is 3 to 5 times more than white women. These statistics are horrifying and surely with such advances in medicine today there should be studys to find out why this is happening are important regardless of the colour of your skin. I felt angry at the treatment these women have received. To say a black woman feels no pain is actually appalling. Women and babies dying and treatment for black women during pregnancy and childbirth is less than what a white women recieves is absolutely disgusting in this day and age.
My heart broke for all those mothers who had lost their stillborn babies, the mothers who died in childbirth and the parents who had lost their children at the hands of the authorities who are supposed to serve and protect. The battles these women went through for justice and to have their voices heard and yet the discrimination is still there.
I absolutely would recommend this book, it is an eye-opener to the prejudices and the fight black women have on a daily basis which is absolutely abhorent and the battles to get to where they are now and recieve the acknowledgement in the history books for their fight for liberation, to be heard, to be accepted and to be treated equally with all women regardless of skin colour.
This book is an inspiration to all women, the author Catherine Joy White has wrote with words of passion from the heart, her words throughout the pages are truly inspirational, this book will certainly make you look at things in a different way, but also realise how backwards and racist our country seems to be regarding the colour of someones skin and their sex.
March 3, 2026
Soft, Strong, and Stitched with Memory
This Thread of Gold by Catherine Joy White is the kind of book that feels like sitting at a kitchen table long after the plates have been cleared — stories unfolding gently, truths surfacing in layers, and history stitched into every sentence. It moved me in a quiet but persistent way. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just steady and deep.
White writes about inheritance, not just the tangible kind, but the emotional, cultural, and generational threads that shape who we become. Reading it, I felt that familiar tug of recognition: the weight of migration, the unspoken expectations, the complicated tenderness between mothers and daughters, and the way food, fabric, and family carry more meaning than we sometimes admit. There’s something powerful about seeing these experiences handled with such care and intelligence, without flattening them into easy narratives.
What stayed with me most was the softness of it. Even when the book addresses pain or displacement, it does so with grace rather than bitterness. It made me reflective — about lineage, about belonging, about the invisible threads that tie past to present. At times I smiled knowingly; at others I paused because a sentence had landed somewhere personal.
This Thread of Gold doesn’t demand attention, it earns it. Thoughtful, intimate, and beautifully written, it feels less like reading a memoir and more like tracing your fingers along a shared seam of history.
This Thread of Gold by Catherine Joy White is the kind of book that feels like sitting at a kitchen table long after the plates have been cleared — stories unfolding gently, truths surfacing in layers, and history stitched into every sentence. It moved me in a quiet but persistent way. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just steady and deep.
White writes about inheritance, not just the tangible kind, but the emotional, cultural, and generational threads that shape who we become. Reading it, I felt that familiar tug of recognition: the weight of migration, the unspoken expectations, the complicated tenderness between mothers and daughters, and the way food, fabric, and family carry more meaning than we sometimes admit. There’s something powerful about seeing these experiences handled with such care and intelligence, without flattening them into easy narratives.
What stayed with me most was the softness of it. Even when the book addresses pain or displacement, it does so with grace rather than bitterness. It made me reflective — about lineage, about belonging, about the invisible threads that tie past to present. At times I smiled knowingly; at others I paused because a sentence had landed somewhere personal.
This Thread of Gold doesn’t demand attention, it earns it. Thoughtful, intimate, and beautifully written, it feels less like reading a memoir and more like tracing your fingers along a shared seam of history.
October 18, 2023
What a wonderfully appropriate book to read during Black History Month in the UK, where the theme is celebrating the achievements of Black women.
This is a love song and a salutation to all the Black women who have trail blazed and led the way, who have formed the threads of gold in a tapestry of powerful womanhood. Here are the unsung heroes who have challenged perceptions and the narrative, and we are also challenged in our turn.
This is also an exploration of Catherine Joy White’s own experiences, and a beautifully written memoir in its own right. Powerful, confessional and written with authority and sensitivity, this made me think whilst gently educating me.
This is a love song and a salutation to all the Black women who have trail blazed and led the way, who have formed the threads of gold in a tapestry of powerful womanhood. Here are the unsung heroes who have challenged perceptions and the narrative, and we are also challenged in our turn.
This is also an exploration of Catherine Joy White’s own experiences, and a beautifully written memoir in its own right. Powerful, confessional and written with authority and sensitivity, this made me think whilst gently educating me.
February 10, 2025
I liked this. It's not really "for" me, but it was beautifully written. I love how the theme is literally woven through the story. It could be a little dry from time to time, but I also did most of my reading at bedtime where I was already drowsy, so it took me longer to finish than expected. Still, really well-written and a beautiful celebratory work.
March 14, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ This book started off a bit slow, but by the end, I felt very empowered and seen.
December 19, 2025
“How does one live with the weight of having different elements of your identity at war with eachother”
April 16, 2025
Sadly two stars. I don’t know what it was about this book but I just couldn’t get through it, but I also didn’t want to put it up my DNF list.
It was something about the writing to me. It was very repetitive and slow even though the historical figures she describes could be most interesting because a lot of those women and their stories I didn’t know.
It was the mid- and end section of each chapter that gave me struggles to get through it. I didn’t feel some connections she made. It also felt sometimes we were chilling in a highway listening to old forgotten stories and then suddenly there was an exit, which didn’t make sense and then the last 5 sentences we got back in that highway.
I wish the book would describe just the stories of the historical heroic women without all the “deeper” connections she tried to make.
Sad because I had high hopes for this book. But I never had my mind wonder off while reading the words so often. I sometimes had to reread a whole page because I noticed I wasn’t even reading them, just thinking of my own thoughts.
I must say: 5 stars for the cover tho.
It was something about the writing to me. It was very repetitive and slow even though the historical figures she describes could be most interesting because a lot of those women and their stories I didn’t know.
It was the mid- and end section of each chapter that gave me struggles to get through it. I didn’t feel some connections she made. It also felt sometimes we were chilling in a highway listening to old forgotten stories and then suddenly there was an exit, which didn’t make sense and then the last 5 sentences we got back in that highway.
I wish the book would describe just the stories of the historical heroic women without all the “deeper” connections she tried to make.
Sad because I had high hopes for this book. But I never had my mind wonder off while reading the words so often. I sometimes had to reread a whole page because I noticed I wasn’t even reading them, just thinking of my own thoughts.
I must say: 5 stars for the cover tho.
May 27, 2025
CW That I Found: Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape
My opinion of this book might be impacted because it didn't really meet my understanding of what it was rather than a critique of the actual writing itself. I was expecting a collection of accounts of significant black woman in history throughout different decades and although that was technically in the book I felt like this was more of a memoir than a history book. Some of the connections to the authors personal life was interesting but I felt like took up too much of the book. I wanted to hear more about the powerful woman that she was comparing herself to as opposed to hearing about her. (Nothing against the author, she seems lovely!)
My opinion of this book might be impacted because it didn't really meet my understanding of what it was rather than a critique of the actual writing itself. I was expecting a collection of accounts of significant black woman in history throughout different decades and although that was technically in the book I felt like this was more of a memoir than a history book. Some of the connections to the authors personal life was interesting but I felt like took up too much of the book. I wanted to hear more about the powerful woman that she was comparing herself to as opposed to hearing about her. (Nothing against the author, she seems lovely!)
March 15, 2026
I finished This Thread of Gold with genuinely conflicting feelings. On one hand, the book’s celebration of Black womanhood is rich, intentional, and often illuminating. I learned a lot from the many women whose stories White brings forward, and there were moments — especially around shrinking, belonging, and the quiet negotiations of identity — that I connected with deeply. Those sections alone made me want to give the book a 5.
But my experience of the audiobook complicated things. Because White narrates it herself, her tone often felt performative in a way that created distance rather than connection. In nonfiction, especially when discussing struggle or vulnerability, that kind of delivery can make the material feel less grounded and authentic. I often found myself wishing I had read the physical book instead, because I suspect I would have connected more fully with the writing on the page.
Audio aside, there were also sections that felt romanticised or shaped by a certain level of privilege, which made parts of the narrative feel less relatable or less layered than they could have been. At times, I felt White’s passion for these women was clear, but the tone drifted into something that reminded me of a young woman’s diary: earnest, eager, and a little intent on proving herself or making her mark, which softened the depth of the message for me. All of this pulled my rating down toward a 3.
I enjoyed the way she wove the history of Black women into her own personal narrative of struggle and the lineage of powerful women in her family, but the overly poetic tone occasionally made those reflections feel more curated than lived.
So I land somewhere between a 3 and a 4, a book with undeniable power and beauty, but one whose impact was softened by the format and by some uneven depth. Still, the stories of Black women threaded throughout are meaningful, and I’m glad I spent time with them.
But my experience of the audiobook complicated things. Because White narrates it herself, her tone often felt performative in a way that created distance rather than connection. In nonfiction, especially when discussing struggle or vulnerability, that kind of delivery can make the material feel less grounded and authentic. I often found myself wishing I had read the physical book instead, because I suspect I would have connected more fully with the writing on the page.
Audio aside, there were also sections that felt romanticised or shaped by a certain level of privilege, which made parts of the narrative feel less relatable or less layered than they could have been. At times, I felt White’s passion for these women was clear, but the tone drifted into something that reminded me of a young woman’s diary: earnest, eager, and a little intent on proving herself or making her mark, which softened the depth of the message for me. All of this pulled my rating down toward a 3.
I enjoyed the way she wove the history of Black women into her own personal narrative of struggle and the lineage of powerful women in her family, but the overly poetic tone occasionally made those reflections feel more curated than lived.
So I land somewhere between a 3 and a 4, a book with undeniable power and beauty, but one whose impact was softened by the format and by some uneven depth. Still, the stories of Black women threaded throughout are meaningful, and I’m glad I spent time with them.
September 17, 2024
This book took me by surprise. When I first picked it up, I had no idea it would also lift my spirit in such a profound way. It quickly became difficult to put down, not just for its eloquence, but for the deep emotional resonance Catherine Joy White brings to every page. White’s writing goes beyond mere celebration of the Black female queen, mother, pioneer, and warrior—both past and present. She speaks to those of us who may sometimes feel we fall short of these lofty titles, reminding us that we are, first and foremost, our mothers’ daughters, and that in itself holds power.
Through intimate storytelling, she introduces us to her favorite Black women—those who rose above every obstacle, refusing to wait for the world’s recognition. Their stories are woven with fierce pride and authenticity, creating a chorus of voices that call out to the reader with urgency and grace. As an author myself, having written She Rose, I connected deeply with White’s reflections. I appreciated the way she intertwined her own story into the larger narrative, crafting a work that’s as personal as it is universal.
But what truly elevates this book is the golden thread of life lessons White has woven into every chapter. She doesn’t just inspire; she empowers. Catherine Joy White isn’t simply living her best life—she’s showing us how to do the same, by daring to speak the truth boldly and unapologetically. If you’re seeking a book that uplifts, challenges, and celebrates the Black woman in all her forms, this is one you absolutely cannot miss. It’s a must-read, and its impact will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
Through intimate storytelling, she introduces us to her favorite Black women—those who rose above every obstacle, refusing to wait for the world’s recognition. Their stories are woven with fierce pride and authenticity, creating a chorus of voices that call out to the reader with urgency and grace. As an author myself, having written She Rose, I connected deeply with White’s reflections. I appreciated the way she intertwined her own story into the larger narrative, crafting a work that’s as personal as it is universal.
But what truly elevates this book is the golden thread of life lessons White has woven into every chapter. She doesn’t just inspire; she empowers. Catherine Joy White isn’t simply living her best life—she’s showing us how to do the same, by daring to speak the truth boldly and unapologetically. If you’re seeking a book that uplifts, challenges, and celebrates the Black woman in all her forms, this is one you absolutely cannot miss. It’s a must-read, and its impact will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
March 3, 2026
god, what a powerful book. it revived my interest towards non-fiction but it also made me ponder about so many people and read about so many women i had never heard before about. two moments that stuck with me the most though:
• My grandmother, alongside some of the “sisters” from her church, has spent the best part of a century helping those in need, cooking for her community. Was this resistance? I certainly had never considered it as such. And yet, it was—is—their domain, their world. It is a space where they are in total control. They are a tower of strength, of collaboration, and of creative flair. It doesn’t matter what the world thinks of them in this space. They are in their element. They are queens and they reign supreme. Anything is possible.
• “for Black women, where rape is concerned, race has preceded issues of gender. We are taught that we are first Black, then women.” Pierce-Baker describes how particularly in cases involving Black men raping Black women, Black women have opted for silence, not just because they are ashamed, but also as a means of protecting the image of Black people worldwide. Speaking out following her rape at the hands of two Black men, Pierce-Baker described how she didn’t want to taint the perception of Black men to her young Black son or to her white neighbors and so she quite simply kept quiet about what had happened to her: “I didn’t want to confirm the white belief that all Black men rape…I assumed silent responsibility for the infamy of others.”
• My grandmother, alongside some of the “sisters” from her church, has spent the best part of a century helping those in need, cooking for her community. Was this resistance? I certainly had never considered it as such. And yet, it was—is—their domain, their world. It is a space where they are in total control. They are a tower of strength, of collaboration, and of creative flair. It doesn’t matter what the world thinks of them in this space. They are in their element. They are queens and they reign supreme. Anything is possible.
• “for Black women, where rape is concerned, race has preceded issues of gender. We are taught that we are first Black, then women.” Pierce-Baker describes how particularly in cases involving Black men raping Black women, Black women have opted for silence, not just because they are ashamed, but also as a means of protecting the image of Black people worldwide. Speaking out following her rape at the hands of two Black men, Pierce-Baker described how she didn’t want to taint the perception of Black men to her young Black son or to her white neighbors and so she quite simply kept quiet about what had happened to her: “I didn’t want to confirm the white belief that all Black men rape…I assumed silent responsibility for the infamy of others.”
June 7, 2023
This was an easy 5 star review for me because it was so incredibly easy to read! (Read it in one sitting - you guys know I rarely do that).
Following the history of black women through culture, creativity and legacy, this book weaves a wonderful story about women we know of but, just as importantly, the women we don't.
I love love love books like this that offer historical fact alongside feeling and meaning, while teaching me more of what I need to know by exploring the likes of:
- Black women in the kitchen
- The black female experience and representation
- Safe spaces
- Beauty standards
- Perspective
- Habits & hobbies
- Class and hierarchy
- Legacy
- Individualism
- Fighting back
- Rejecting stereotypes
- Acceptance
This is honestly a great one for ANYONE to read. It is intellectual, educational, heart-felt and as always needed.
I loved the constant reminder that I don't need to overextend or dim myself for the comfort of others because of the importance of living in my truth.
It doesn't drag while simultaneously proving enough detail that I have gone off and done some more of my own research.
I came away inspired!
OUT 22ND JUNE - Get pre-ordering noooowwww!
Following the history of black women through culture, creativity and legacy, this book weaves a wonderful story about women we know of but, just as importantly, the women we don't.
I love love love books like this that offer historical fact alongside feeling and meaning, while teaching me more of what I need to know by exploring the likes of:
- Black women in the kitchen
- The black female experience and representation
- Safe spaces
- Beauty standards
- Perspective
- Habits & hobbies
- Class and hierarchy
- Legacy
- Individualism
- Fighting back
- Rejecting stereotypes
- Acceptance
This is honestly a great one for ANYONE to read. It is intellectual, educational, heart-felt and as always needed.
I loved the constant reminder that I don't need to overextend or dim myself for the comfort of others because of the importance of living in my truth.
It doesn't drag while simultaneously proving enough detail that I have gone off and done some more of my own research.
I came away inspired!
OUT 22ND JUNE - Get pre-ordering noooowwww!
September 29, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It’s written by a young black woman and I’m an old white woman, so on the surface we have little in common. But that’s why I liked it. It opened my eyes to people, and places, I had no experience of. Many of the women discussed I had heard of or was at least aware of, like Diane Abbott and Hattie McDaniel, but I still learned more.
And there were many, many fascinating women I’d never heard of, and that is one of the reasons I’m grateful to Ms White. These women deserve to be more widely known. I’m researching several including Mary Fields and Mary McLeod Bethune and Wangari Maathai who was given a six month jail sentence for calling her husband incompetent during her divorce but ended up with a Nobel Peace Prize.
Ms White is an excellent writer and manages to make this complex book very readable by following her golden thread through the whole narrative. It isn’t a lecture or a polemic but a clear tribute to some astonishing black women and a great success in bringing their names into the light. It deserves to be widely read and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn about such strong, amazing women.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley
And there were many, many fascinating women I’d never heard of, and that is one of the reasons I’m grateful to Ms White. These women deserve to be more widely known. I’m researching several including Mary Fields and Mary McLeod Bethune and Wangari Maathai who was given a six month jail sentence for calling her husband incompetent during her divorce but ended up with a Nobel Peace Prize.
Ms White is an excellent writer and manages to make this complex book very readable by following her golden thread through the whole narrative. It isn’t a lecture or a polemic but a clear tribute to some astonishing black women and a great success in bringing their names into the light. It deserves to be widely read and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn about such strong, amazing women.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley
June 24, 2023
This is a spectacular exploration of Black womanhood - the storytelling was seamless, balancing history and memoir, with lovely prose and heartfelt appreciation for Black women everywhere.
I was listening to the audiobook and wasn’t able to take notes, so I can’t give a rundown on the contents. But so much of it lingers with me. The deconstruction of ‘Aunt Jemima’ and the women who were silenced until their stories could be reclaimed. Translation—of language, literature, action—as both resistance and loss. The weight and cost of being ‘the first.’ The women who come before, the grandmothers, who provide the foundation for all the possibilities that come after, and the mothers, who fight for a better world for their children.
I received a free audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review. It was narrated by the author, and beautifully! I could listen to her read the phone book, as they used to say. They way she brought it all to life really added an extra depth to the joy and weight and fire of the writing.
I was listening to the audiobook and wasn’t able to take notes, so I can’t give a rundown on the contents. But so much of it lingers with me. The deconstruction of ‘Aunt Jemima’ and the women who were silenced until their stories could be reclaimed. Translation—of language, literature, action—as both resistance and loss. The weight and cost of being ‘the first.’ The women who come before, the grandmothers, who provide the foundation for all the possibilities that come after, and the mothers, who fight for a better world for their children.
I received a free audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review. It was narrated by the author, and beautifully! I could listen to her read the phone book, as they used to say. They way she brought it all to life really added an extra depth to the joy and weight and fire of the writing.
March 13, 2026
Inspiring, thoughtful, and informative
This is a moving and educational book I’m glad I read.
It blends history lessons with personal reflections and cultural commentary — and truly feels like a celebration of black women, as the title says.
Catherine Joy White uses the “thread of gold” as a metaphor throughout that ties together the lives and legacies of black women, from cultural movers like Rosa Parks and Nina Simone to the lesser-known matriarchs of any family tree. It’s quite poetic and beautiful at points.
The book and metaphor are powerful and effective. For those of us who aren’t black women, it’s a great opportunity to listen and learn, and it added more to my list of books to read.
This one isn’t always easy to read though. Sometimes it feels a little disorganized, almost like rambling, and I found myself losing focus in these moments.
Those moments barely detract from the overall value of the book. It’s a great read and accomplishes exactly its purpose for those willing to give it a shot.
This is a moving and educational book I’m glad I read.
It blends history lessons with personal reflections and cultural commentary — and truly feels like a celebration of black women, as the title says.
Catherine Joy White uses the “thread of gold” as a metaphor throughout that ties together the lives and legacies of black women, from cultural movers like Rosa Parks and Nina Simone to the lesser-known matriarchs of any family tree. It’s quite poetic and beautiful at points.
The book and metaphor are powerful and effective. For those of us who aren’t black women, it’s a great opportunity to listen and learn, and it added more to my list of books to read.
This one isn’t always easy to read though. Sometimes it feels a little disorganized, almost like rambling, and I found myself losing focus in these moments.
Those moments barely detract from the overall value of the book. It’s a great read and accomplishes exactly its purpose for those willing to give it a shot.
March 13, 2026
FIRST let me just say I tell people all the time that I do not like memoirs or biographies.
This book has imprinted on my heart my soul and my mind. The Book is written well and very poetic while being inspiring. White doesnt just account stories of Black Women Pioneers she discuss there's hardship long the way that helped weave their thread into society some women who stories are long forgotten or never told.
chapter 10....DAUGHTER -chefs kiss
This book made me sad yet proud. say to know we have gone through so much to get to where we are but proud because as WHITE says many times in the book "this thread of gold that ties me to me mother , my grandmother and the women who came before looks like the color purple". "And now , I guess it looks like me- like us. we are this thread of gold. Long may we shine.
This book has imprinted on my heart my soul and my mind. The Book is written well and very poetic while being inspiring. White doesnt just account stories of Black Women Pioneers she discuss there's hardship long the way that helped weave their thread into society some women who stories are long forgotten or never told.
chapter 10....DAUGHTER -chefs kiss
This book made me sad yet proud. say to know we have gone through so much to get to where we are but proud because as WHITE says many times in the book "this thread of gold that ties me to me mother , my grandmother and the women who came before looks like the color purple". "And now , I guess it looks like me- like us. we are this thread of gold. Long may we shine.
March 13, 2025
🎧 3.75 stars. I really liked the way this book included the stories of women we don’t really think of, or we simplify their contributions. I liked the idea of a thread binding all these people together and how people are one big web. And not just any thread, a thread of gold. However, in the last chapter I wanted to be like, I understand you don’t need to say it every paragraph. The intense repetition of it in the last chapter to me took away some of its umph.
I am glad I read this for my goodreads March Challange, I will say. I think this was a great book to read for women’s history month especially since it highlights the history of specifically black women and addresses stereotypes and how racist perceptions of black women have perpetuated slavery to today.
I am glad I read this for my goodreads March Challange, I will say. I think this was a great book to read for women’s history month especially since it highlights the history of specifically black women and addresses stereotypes and how racist perceptions of black women have perpetuated slavery to today.
March 13, 2026
**May contain spoilers**
This book was unexpected. I listened to it on Audible, narrated by the author herself. I picked it up for the Goodreads Her Story challenge, expecting more of a celebration of Black womanhood. Instead, it went much deeper than I anticipated, tracing the history of Black women through a broad range of stories and experiences across generations. Many of the stories were interesting and I even found myself looking up some of the references—like Hattie McDaniel’s Oscar acceptance speech.
The narration was articulate and engaging, though at times it did feel a little like she was trying too hard. And the letter to her daughter at the end, while heartfelt, felt a bit cheesy and overdone for my taste—even though I understand why she chose to include it.
This book was unexpected. I listened to it on Audible, narrated by the author herself. I picked it up for the Goodreads Her Story challenge, expecting more of a celebration of Black womanhood. Instead, it went much deeper than I anticipated, tracing the history of Black women through a broad range of stories and experiences across generations. Many of the stories were interesting and I even found myself looking up some of the references—like Hattie McDaniel’s Oscar acceptance speech.
The narration was articulate and engaging, though at times it did feel a little like she was trying too hard. And the letter to her daughter at the end, while heartfelt, felt a bit cheesy and overdone for my taste—even though I understand why she chose to include it.
August 26, 2023
Thank you to #Netgalley and #Dialogue books for giving me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Catherine White writes compassionately and with such loving prose about black womanhood, using history and key cultural figures to redress the balance. She has chosen some incredible women to highlight her point. My favourite part was easily that of Hattie McDaniel. I only knew of her as an actress, playing Mammy in Gone with the Wind. I had no idea what an amazing, complex woman, poet, comedienne and activist she was. I shall certainly be buying a copy and look forward to more from Catherine White.
Catherine White writes compassionately and with such loving prose about black womanhood, using history and key cultural figures to redress the balance. She has chosen some incredible women to highlight her point. My favourite part was easily that of Hattie McDaniel. I only knew of her as an actress, playing Mammy in Gone with the Wind. I had no idea what an amazing, complex woman, poet, comedienne and activist she was. I shall certainly be buying a copy and look forward to more from Catherine White.
June 13, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up.
I enjoyed learning the history of so many amazing women that are rarely celebrated. I struggled to get through this book because of the format - the author jumped between personal blips of her story and roughly connected pieces of other’s stories connected each chapter by a broad concept. These stories need to be told, I’m glad I read this, but the structure just wasn’t for me.
Thank you NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. #netgalley #thisthreadofgold
I enjoyed learning the history of so many amazing women that are rarely celebrated. I struggled to get through this book because of the format - the author jumped between personal blips of her story and roughly connected pieces of other’s stories connected each chapter by a broad concept. These stories need to be told, I’m glad I read this, but the structure just wasn’t for me.
Thank you NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. #netgalley #thisthreadofgold
March 10, 2026
Prose abound and education ignites in this scorching manifesto. I felt joy and shame throughout this book. Shame for the way Black women in our societies have been treated, and joy for how despite it all they shine above it all in glorious Gold.
Equal parts educational doctrine, empowering poetry and snippets of White’s own life, this is a real powerhouse of a novel. At times hard to follow the ping pong of what medium we are in, but that’s the most minuscule of details to harp on in an otherwise brilliant work.
Equal parts educational doctrine, empowering poetry and snippets of White’s own life, this is a real powerhouse of a novel. At times hard to follow the ping pong of what medium we are in, but that’s the most minuscule of details to harp on in an otherwise brilliant work.
March 15, 2026
I wish everyone would read this book! The rich history, and ACCURATE information here is brilliant. If you are someone who is trying to “unlearn” the false narrative you were taught in (particularly) white washed America, this book is an excellent resource that can help you see more clearly. I’m sure “haters will hate,” and the book will have all sorts of critics, but for me, this book is ON POINT, and way beyond on time. I’m sad our world requires this kind of work to be done, and I’m also incredibly grateful there are amazing authors like Catherine Joy White here to do it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 14, 2023
Such a educational book. I really enjoy the fact that tell the story of different women for the history but talk too about woman on our modern days. I truly enjoy the tread that the autor create between culture, womanhood and society. The book of beautifully written, is such a easy to ready book and I Belive it will be a eye open book for anyone who read it. Book is out the 22 of this month so preorder it, preorder books really help authors.
August 8, 2023
Thank you to Dialogue Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars.
Part memoir, part historic account, part social and current affairs. This book covers it all. I found myself nodding along with the author's sentiments so many times as well as learning more about historic black women that I previously didn't know about. This book manages to capture you so effortlessly and does an amazing job at celebrating trailblazing women from all around the world and through history while also addressing areas in our present time that must be addressed and intensely looked at. A book that I will instantly be recommending.
4.5 stars.
Part memoir, part historic account, part social and current affairs. This book covers it all. I found myself nodding along with the author's sentiments so many times as well as learning more about historic black women that I previously didn't know about. This book manages to capture you so effortlessly and does an amazing job at celebrating trailblazing women from all around the world and through history while also addressing areas in our present time that must be addressed and intensely looked at. A book that I will instantly be recommending.
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