On February 5, 2025, Tanisha C. Ford was honored with the prestigious Hooks National Book Award by the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis.
Ford, a renowned historian and author, was recognized for her groundbreaking work, Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement (2023).
The book explores the pivotal yet often overlooked role of Black women during the Civil Rights era, centering on Mollie Moon, the founder and president of the National Urban League Guild.
Through Moon’s efforts to raise critical funds for activists and initiatives, Ford highlights how these women fueled the movement both on the ground and behind the scenes.
In Our Secret Society, Ford delves into the intersection of glamour, money, and power, showing how Moon and others used their influence to support the fight for civil rights.
The book highlights the complex networks that women like Moon built, which were crucial in sustaining the movement’s momentum during a time of intense social and political change.
The Hooks National Book Award recognizes outstanding works that contribute to the field of social change, and Ford’s work exemplifies the power of storytelling in reshaping our understanding of history.
