Bridge Women for today - by Jenny You

Jacqueline Rouse was an engaging speaker, as I had expected. She covered grassroots efforts, civil rights women, and activism. She even answered a few of the my fellow colleagues' questions.

Rouse spoke of race women, such as Ella Baker and Septima Clark. Now these women are what we consider "bridge women." Bridge women were groomed by the late 19th century women (those in slavery, in the Niagra movement, etc.). They were trained by their parents and leaders to be accounable for what they already had adn to use what they had to make a difference.

Citizenship schools, established by educator and activist Septima Clark, was one effort and activism that changed history. Citizenship schools helped with literacy which was important at the time because states in the south had a law that required everyone to be literate and be able to interpret the U.S. Constitution so that they could register and ultimately vote.

It was a source of empowerment for black communities in the south and just one way to get people involved in leadership during the movement. Citizenship schools were taught by everyday people, such as beauticians and barbars, who knew how to read. This was one large step for the civil rights movement.

But people like Septima Clark weren't taken seriously at the time because they were women. No matter the accomplishments and how much longer they were activists than their male counterparts, these women weren't given the credit they deserved now the respect.

Rouse left us with some words of wisdom:

"To me the story has to be maintained for every generation. What you do with it, how u process it and how u make a difference? That's for you to determine."

So how would we follow in the steps of Septima Clark? Well, Rouse says, "it's about exposing each generation to the true story. What you do with it is totally up to you."