Lifting Up

Since this is the season of honoring mothers, I want to give another reason to play the game of “Lifting Up.”  One of my sheroes from the 19^th and early 20^th century is Ida B. Wells-Barnett (1862 - 1931).  She was a journalist, social and political activist and organizer, woman’s suffrage crusader, wife and mother of 4 children.  She is also the first Black woman that I know of who used both her maiden name and her married name – I have always known her as either Ida B. Wells or Ida B. Wells -Barnett.  When she married and gave birth to 4 children between 1896 and 1904, she had hired help to travel with her as she went about her work, as often her children traveled with her.  Now this was in the age of long dresses and tight corsets.  Of all of her historic and ground-breaking accomplishments, she says that her greatest accomplishment in life was being a mother.   

So, on this Mother’s Day, let’s lift up all the mothers, past and present, who bring beauty into an unsettled world; who discipline on one hand, and kiss away the hurts on the other; who battle for justice, not only on the homefront, but also for concerns of all humanity; who don’t give up playing the game, not only for themselves, but for children, too.   

 I do not see how colored women can be true to themselves unless they demand recognition for themselves and those they represent.  Ida B. Wells-Barnett