This volume investigates the literary contributions and cultural impact of nineteenth-century Black women poets within the United States. Joan R. Sherman, a scholar of nineteenth-century American literature, compiles and contextualizes these works to demonstrate the breadth of intellectual and creative output by Black women during a period of intense social and political upheaval. The collection serves as a primary source archive, arguing that these poets were active participants in the literary discourse of their time despite systemic exclusion.

Scholars and historians recognize this collection as a foundational resource for the study of nineteenth-century African American literature. The text is frequently cited for its rigorous archival work and its role in recovering voices that were previously absent from standard literary canons.