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Reviewed by Richard Prause for Readers' Favorite
Dangerous, Black and Notorious tells the true story of Mary Ellen Pleasant, a powerful Black entrepreneur who lived during the 19th century. The book follows her journey from childhood to her rise as one of the most influential women in San Francisco during the Gold Rush era. It reveals how she used her sharp mind, business skills, and abolitionist relations to build an empire through boarding houses, laundries, and property. She often partnered with white business owners because the law blocked Black women from owning assets. The book also shows how she fought in court for civil rights while battling racial prejudice that tried to weaken her influence. Her life is an intriguing mix of facts and rumors. Woody Clermont paints a vivid picture of Mary Ellen Pleasant, a woman who refused to be limited by her time.
Dangerous, Black and Notorious by Woody Clermont is a captivating look at African American history. The writing really pulls you in. I admired Pleasant's intelligence, discipline, and courage. The author shows how Pleasant navigated a world that constantly blocked her because of her race and gender. Yet, she kept finding strategic ways to survive, grow, and help others. Reading her story made me think about how history treats powerful Black women—sometimes exaggerating them into legends and sometimes completely erasing them. For me, the book felt like a mindful effort to restore her dignity and show the real strength behind her choices. It left me thinking about power, silence, and the heavy price people often paid when they stood up against unfair systems. It grabbed my attention from start to finish. Great book. History fans will relish it.
