A More Perfect Party

Chisholm worked the crowd of movie stars, media moguls, music executives and activists gathered at Carroll’s opulent Beverly Hills home, forging relationships with laughter as she urged guests to unify behind her campaign. With the feminist movement on the rise and eighteen- to twenty-year-olds voting for the first time in American history, the Democratic Party and the nation were on the cusp of long-overdue change. 

Zooming in on one party attendee per chapter, A More Perfect Party brings this whimsical event out of the margins of history to demonstrate that there is an opportunity for all of us to fight for a better nation and return power to the people.

• “Juanita Tolliver reveals what might be the most iconic fundraising party of all time. A More Perfect Party is a beautifully written political-social page turner, full of hope, glamour, the triumphs and failures of race and gender allyship, and most of all, the audacity to believe a Black woman could be the president of the United States of America. This is a perfectly timed book.” 
  Joy-Ann Reid, host of MSNBC’s The ReidOut and New York Times bestselling author of Medgar and Myrlie
• “Juanita Tolliver is an incisive, vibrant, and increasingly prominent voice in today’s politics, and she brings her analytical lens and appreciation for history to A More Perfect Party. Effective campaigns bring people together, and progress usually requires that we see each other as fully human and valuable; Tolliver explores those themes through the 1972 Democratic Party, and one dazzling, historic, literal party — with lessons that echo in today’s debates about liberalism, diversity and of course, winning.”
  Ari Melber, host of MSNBC’s The Beat and MSNBC Chief Legal Correspondent
• “A More Perfect Party is a detailed, thorough, and inspiring look into the meeting between Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and Diahann Carroll that brought together two of the most influential Black women of our time—both from very different walks of life, both looking to change the world. I remember that day like it was yesterday. Juanita Tolliver’s gifted storytelling brings this historic encounter back to life in a way that has never been done before. As we celebrate what would have been Congresswoman Chisholm’s 100th birthday, Tolliver's timely book is a reminder that because of Shirley Chisholm, I am. Tolliver’s work emphasizes Chisholm's impact, and beautifully connects it to what we're witnessing in politics today.” 
  U.S. Representative Barbara Lee
• “Juanita Tolliver artfully weaves together pop culture and history to shed new light on Shirley Chisholm's enduring legacy and lessons from her political career that our nation can, and must, learn. The vivid stories Tolliver presents speak to each of the necessary ingredients for building power and community, offering a roadmap through complex American history, our current reality, and the limitless future of Black women in politics.”
  Anna Malaika Tubbs, New York Times bestselling author of The Three Mothers
• “Juanita does something beautiful throughout these pages. She captures a story that is unique and universal at the same time—a snapshot of Black women striving to make change. A must read for those in the work of movement and coalition building.”
  U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley
• "A More Perfect Party is the story of the historic presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm, which turns out to be the story of the historic presidential campaign of Kamala Harris, which turns out to be the story of Black women and their historic campaigns to make America great for the first time ever. Black women can help us, if we'd only just let them."
  Elie Mystal, New York Times bestselling author of Allow Me to Retort
• “[A More Perfect Party is an] ebullient and trenchant look at a trailblazing campaign for president. Tolliver writes that the fundraiser fueled a sense of optimism among traditionally marginalized groups. A Black woman has yet to be elected president of the United States, but that day may come, thanks in no small part to Shirley Chisholm paving the way.”  
   
  Kirkus