The Hand I Fan With

I was the first American citizen to be elected to Congress in spite of the double drawbacks of being female and having skin darkened by melanin. When you put it that way, it sounds like a foolish reason for fame. In a just and free society it would be foolish. I want history to remember me not just as the first black woman to be elected to Congress, not as the first black woman to have made a bid for the presidency of the United States, but as a black woman who lived in the 20th century and dared to be herself. Tremendous amounts of talent are lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt. At present, our country needs women's idealism and determination, perhaps more in politics than anywhere else. Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth. You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas. Racism is so universal in this country, so widespread and deepseated, that it...

“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” "My alma mater was books, a good library... I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity." "If you're not ready to die for it, put the word 'freedom' out of your vocabulary." "There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance next time."

HaHa! Well I have been laughing to myself every time I remember this incident which happened almost first thing in my workday today. I am in my office and the secretary calls to say that one of the construction workers on the project outside my office building, wants to see me. Now I parked my van sort of unusual, so I thought it was about that he must want to see me. So I let him in. I am at this time preparing for my regular Monday morning staff meeting and would not have allowed interruptions ordinarily. But I thought just a few minutes and I would deal with this. In walks one of the workers not in usual construction work clothes but street clothes. I recognize him because every morning I come to work he makes it a point to say hi. He will walk closer to where I park just to make sure he tells me good morning. So now I am curious to know what he wants. I see it is not my vehicle that is the concern...I am wondering maybe he has come to seek assistance under the project I manag...