Kentucky Women in the Civil Rights Era

This week, we are working on compiling all the information we have gathered surrounding Anne Braden and her life. We are finally going to be able to make the trip to Louisville to visit the Anne Braden Institute this Wednesday after several weeks of scheduling conflicts. We hope this visit will help us nail down the details our final project and truly represent Anne Braden in the manner she deserves. We are excited for this opportunity, and we’ll be updating as the week goes on about what we encounter.

Especially now, with the semester winding down, it’s hard to believe we only started this class a few months ago. The projects are so involved and so in depth, I feel as if we have been in this class for years. This class was not at all what I expected – it is so much more. It is a privilege to be a part of discovering the history  of these important women, and I am so thankful that we have been able to do so.

She lives in a quaint home, with a nice garden, and pink window frames.  The discerning trademark was a bumper sticker on the front door calling attention to Arizona’s controversial “show me your papers” law.  She was tiny, no greater than 5 feet, if that, and well dressed.  The walls of her beautiful home were covered in art, and there were books everywhere.  She was a whirlwind of “sit down,” and “come in” and “I expected you here [an hour earlier].”   Although there was a slight mix up in time, it actually worked out better in the end.

My partner and I were whisked away with Suzy to attend a memorial service for another Civil Rights Activist, Ruth “Babe” Booker Bryant. Babe was probably best known for being a part of the Louisville 6, a group that got arrested in Louisville’s West End.  Suzy had agreed to speak at the service, but she assured us she would speak to us in the car the entire trip to the funeral home, and she did.

On the ride there, she opened up to us about her experience in the women’s rights movement.    She raised some interesting points, like how important divorced women were to the movement, how radical women in the anti-war movement got stuck with the “shit work”, and the overall development of women’s own personal consciousness.  It was interesting learning how fundamental churches were to halting progress for women.  She also discussed her important work with Title IX. As an important figure in the ACLU, she wanted to utilize the ACLU’s resources to help women.

After the service, Suzy took us out for lunch at an Ethiopian restaurant.  She was very determined that we would have a good experience by at least trying something new.  In the kindest manner, she pushed food on us as though she were our own Jewish grandmother.  Then we were again invited into her gorgeous home.  We got the opportunity to look through newspaper clippings, booklets for various causes, and family photos.

At some point the interview stopped, and Suzy stopped being a subject.  Eventually we were just sitting in the living room of this amazing, amazing woman, talking to her about our own causes and concerns, trying to understand all her wisdom and compassion and drive.  She is an amazing person, with a family, with doubts and regrets.  After meeting her, I don’t believe that Suzy ever had a choice to be an activist, because when she saw inequality, (and when she continues to see it today), standing by and letting it happen was just never an option for her.

I realize how blessed I was to meet Suzy Post.  She had such great words to say to the next generation of activists, like, “Don’t give yourself the luxury of being depressed,” “you have to have comrades,” and “social change takes time and pressure, time and pressure, time and pressure.”  I am so glad to be able to lift her up, so that other people can learn about the amazing woman.

—————————————————————————————–

 http://www.uky.edu/Libraries/nkaa/record.php?note_id=4

 http://www.uky.edu/Libraries/nkaa/record.php?note_id=4