Fighter in Velvet Gloves - by Annie Boochever (Paperback)

About the Book

"'No Natives or Dogs Allowed' blared the storefront sign at the young Tlingit Indian girl. The sting of those words would stay with Elizabeth Peratrovich all her life. Years later, a seasoned fighter for equality, she would deliver her own eloquent message. One that helped change Alaska and the nation forever. Tensions could not have been higher in Gallery B of the Alaska Territorial Senate. Alaska Natives and non-Natives pressed shoulder to shoulder or stood teetering on chairs to peer over the avalanche of heads that flowed into the hallway. They had come to hear debate on the first anti-discrimination bill in America, almost 20 years before passage of the United States Civil Rights Act. One speaker remained. Now thirty-three years old, Elizabeth Peratrovich placed her knitting next to her young daughter and rose. Dignified and confident in white velvet gloves, stylish green dress and matching hat, she made her way slowly down the crowded aisle. The audience strained forward, drawn by her calm but powerful presence. She turned to face the assembled legislators. Fighter in Velvet Gloves traces Elizabeth's life, from birth and adoption to leadership in a battle for civil rights now celebrated annually throughout Alaska on Elizabeth Peratrovich Day. Author Annie Boochever grew up in Juneau, Alaska. She and her family knew many of the Alaskans, including political leaders, who played key roles in Elizabeth's life and in the battle for Alaska Native people's equality. Written in collaboration with Elizabeth's eldest son, Roy Peratrovich Jr., Fighter in Velvet Gloves brings to life for readers, age ten through young adult, the story of an inspirational Alaskan and American hero"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

"No Natives or Dogs Allowed," blared the storefront sign at Elizabeth Peratrovich, then a young Alaska Native Tlingit. The sting of those words would stay with her all her life. Years later, after becoming a seasoned fighter for equality, she would deliver her own powerful message: one that helped change Alaska and the nation forever.

In 1945, Peratrovich stood before the Alaska Territorial Legislative Session and gave a powerful speech about her childhood and her experiences being treated as a second-class citizen. Her heartfelt testimony led to the passing of the landmark Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act, America's first civil rights legislation. Today, Alaska celebrates Elizabeth Peratrovich Day every February 16, and she was honored on the gold one-dollar coin in 2020.

Annie Boochever worked with Elizabeth's eldest son, Roy Peratrovich Jr., to bring Elizabeth's story to life in the first book written for young teens on this remarkable Alaska Native woman.

Review Quotes

"An important contribution. . . . This is a book that should be placed in the required curriculum of all Alaska schoolchildren. More importantly, it's one that should be read by adults. Anyone who peruses online comments on Alaska news sites or who follows state news stories knows that racism is still being directed towards Alaska Natives. The problem persists and Elizabeth Peratrovich's work remains incomplete. It's up to us to continue the job. Fighter in Velvet Gloves explains why."

"I highly recommend Fighter in Velvet Gloves. Some readers will be uncomfortable to read about the racism directed at Alaska Native people. Accounts like these mess with the idea that this country is exceptional, that it is (or was) 'great.' These accounts have received very little attention in children's or young adult literature--but they're very important. Change is possible, but only when problems are identified and made visible."

"With a rousing speech to the Alaskan Territorial Legislature in 1945, Elizabeth Peratrovich became a Tlingit hero, inspiring the passage of an anti-discrimination bill. In straightforward prose enhanced by photographs, Boochever outlines the history of Peratrovich's fight for equality in Alaska at a time when harsh discrimination affected every area of Native peoples' lives."

Alaska representative

Best Books of 2019

2020 Feminist Book Project List

2020 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People

About the Author

Annie Boochever grew up in Juneau, where she became a teacher and playwright. She is the cofounder of the Alaska Children's Theater. Boochever is also the author of Bristol Bay Summer. She lives in Bellingham, Washington. Roy Peratrovich Jr. is a Tlingit from southeastern Alaska, where his parents were well-known Alaska Native civil rights leaders.