The only full biography of Benjamin Rush; an extraordinary Founding Father and America's leading physician of the Colonial eraWhile Benjamin Rush appears often and meaningfully in biographies about John Adams; Thomas Jefferson; and Benjamin Franklin; this legendary man is presented as little more than a historical footnote. Yet; he was a propelling force in what culminated in the Declaration of Independence; to which he was a cosigner. Rush was an early agitator for independence; a member of the First Continental Congress; and one of the leading surgeons of the Continental Army during the early phase of the American Revolution. He was an constant and indefatigable adviser to the foremost figures of the American Revolution; notably George Washington; Benjamin Franklin; Thomas Jefferson; and John Adams.Even if he had not played a major role in our country's creation; Rush would have left his mark in history as an eminent physician and a foremost social reformer in such areas as medical teaching; treatment of the mentally ill (he is considered the Father of American Psychiatry); international prevention of yellow fever; establishment of public schools; implementation of improved education for women; and much more.For readers of well-written biographies; Brodsky has illuminated the life of one of America's great and overlooked revolutionaries.
#2536080 in Books St Martins Press 1999-09Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 .88 x 5.82 x 8.55l; #File Name: 0312220707240 pages
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A POLITICAL COMMENTARY FROM A FAMOUS BLACK FEMINIST PHILOSOPHERBy Steven H ProppJoy James is Visiting Professor/John B. and John T. McCoy Presidential Professor of the Humanities and College Professor in Political Science at Williams College. She has also written books such as Transcending the Talented Tenth: Black Leaders and American Intellectuals; Resisting State Violence: Radicalism; Gender; and Race in U.S. Culture; and Spirit; Space and Survival: African American Women in (White) Academe (White Academe).She states in the "Acknowledgements" section of this 1999 book; "Shadowboxing is one of many works refracting 'official' or state politics. Although its author is represented as an individual writer; its insights come from many political and cultural workers."Here are some quotations from the book:"Shadowboxing stands as something of an anomaly in mainstream social and political thought; as well as in black feminist thought. Its discussions seek to unmask political dominance and the limits of liberalism or civil rights advocacy. The book highlights black women's challenges to state power and antiradicalism within conventional politics and within feminist and antiracist politics; as well as describes how cultural stereotypes obscure political agency." (Pg. 8)"Racist and state violence and exploitation as 'public' overshadow the 'private' violence and exploitation within black families in antiracist rhetoric and organizing." (Pg. 68)"Black feminist liberaton ideology challenges state power by addressing class exploitation; racism; nationalism; and sexual violence with critiques of and activist confrontations with corporate-state policies." (Pg. 83)"Blacks share with gays and prostitutes the stereotypes of being 'naturally' and primarily sexual. In fetishized representations; they are all aberrational beings who court their own abuse." (Pg. 140)"The walls built by isolationist discourse cause black women who refuse to bind to identities polarized as either 'black' or 'female' to be accused of gender or racial venality." (Pg. 185)0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. ... AS THOUGH MORE COULD HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT AN AMAZING GROUP OF BLACK WOMENBy Larry Derain HicksI FELT AS THOUGH MORE COULD HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT AN AMAZING GROUP OF BLACK WOMEN. LARRY HICKS
