EPISODE #026 Big Shoes To Fill: The Legacies Of Dr. Dorothy Height and Sarah Ann Shaw
03/28/24 • 29 min
As we end our salute to Women's History Month, there are big shoes to fill when the conversation turns to two great Americans. One was a national icon who sat at the table with the great civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The other was a local/regional hero, the first African-American hired as a news reporter for WBZ TV here in Boston. Regardless of their popularity on the national stage, their effectiveness is far-reaching and has had social and economic implications for many years.
Dr. Dorothy Height was a trailblazing pioneer whose determination to champion the cause of Black and Brown communities was light years ahead of those who wanted gradual progress. Dr. Height was born in 1912 in Richmond, Virginia, and lived a robust 98 years until her passing in 2010. I knew her as the National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and as my sorority sister. I had the pleasure of meeting her on several occasions and always admired her outrageously beautiful hats.
Sarah-Ann Shaw was a fiercely proud and feisty woman of action. Her role in Boston civil rights activities led her to become the first African-American reporter and journalist for WBZ TV, where she served for 31 years from 1969 to 2000. Everyone knew and loved Sarah Ann. You knew that when she reported on the news stories, it would be fair and accurate. She even deliberated on joining the television station because she never wanted to compromise her integrity. That's what we all loved about her.
Sarah Ann passed away on March 21, 2024 at the age of 90. Her daughter Klare and their family will hold a memorial service for Sarah-Ann on April 27, 2024, at my church, Bethel AME, in Boston.
In preparing for this broadcast I talked to Klare and she reminded me that her mother admired the work I was doing in diversity, equity, and inclusion. I was deeply humbled just to hear those comments. Her legacy was so widespread that a friend and colleague of mine in the United Kingdom read about her in her local newspaper and wanted to know more.
The late and great Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm said, "Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth." We can all now say that the rent has been paid in full for Dr. Dorothy Height and Sarah-Ann Shaw. May they both rest in power as they continue to inspire us with their earthly actions and deeds.
===============
SARAH-ANN SHAW
Bay State Banner:
https://baystatebanner.com/2024/03/27/sarah-ann-shaw-the-passing-of-a-boston-news-pioneer/
Davis Funeral Home
https://www.davisofboston.com/obituary/Sarah-Ann-Shaw
Boston Globe
History Makers
https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/sarah-ann-shaw-41
==========================
DR. DOROTHY HEIGHT
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Height
History Makers
https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/dorothy-height-39
National Park Service
https://www.nps.gov/mamc/learn/historyculture/dorothy-irene-height.htm
Biography
As we end our salute to Women's History Month, there are big shoes to fill when the conversation turns to two great Americans. One was a national icon who sat at the table with the great civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The other was a local/regional hero, the first African-American hired as a news reporter for WBZ TV here in Boston. Regardless of their popularity on the national stage, their effectiveness is far-reaching and has had social and economic implications for many years.
Dr. Dorothy Height was a trailblazing pioneer whose determination to champion the cause of Black and Brown communities was light years ahead of those who wanted gradual progress. Dr. Height was born in 1912 in Richmond, Virginia, and lived a robust 98 years until her passing in 2010. I knew her as the National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and as my sorority sister. I had the pleasure of meeting her on several occasions and always admired her outrageously beautiful hats.
Sarah-Ann Shaw was a fiercely proud and feisty woman of action. Her role in Boston civil rights activities led her to become the first African-American reporter and journalist for WBZ TV, where she served for 31 years from 1969 to 2000. Everyone knew and loved Sarah Ann. You knew that when she reported on the news stories, it would be fair and accurate. She even deliberated on joining the television station because she never wanted to compromise her integrity. That's what we all loved about her.
Sarah Ann passed away on March 21, 2024 at the age of 90. Her daughter Klare and their family will hold a memorial service for Sarah-Ann on April 27, 2024, at my church, Bethel AME, in Boston.
In preparing for this broadcast I talked to Klare and she reminded me that her mother admired the work I was doing in diversity, equity, and inclusion. I was deeply humbled just to hear those comments. Her legacy was so widespread that a friend and colleague of mine in the United Kingdom read about her in her local newspaper and wanted to know more.
The late and great Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm said, "Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth." We can all now say that the rent has been paid in full for Dr. Dorothy Height and Sarah-Ann Shaw. May they both rest in power as they continue to inspire us with their earthly actions and deeds.
===============
SARAH-ANN SHAW
Bay State Banner:
https://baystatebanner.com/2024/03/27/sarah-ann-shaw-the-passing-of-a-boston-news-pioneer/
Davis Funeral Home
https://www.davisofboston.com/obituary/Sarah-Ann-Shaw
Boston Globe
History Makers
https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/sarah-ann-shaw-41
==========================
DR. DOROTHY HEIGHT
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Height
History Makers
https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/dorothy-height-39
National Park Service
https://www.nps.gov/mamc/learn/historyculture/dorothy-irene-height.htm
Biography
Previous Episode
EPISODE #025 The Truth About Critical Race Theory: What It Is. What It Isn’t. How It’s Been Hijacked.
Critical Race Theory CRT has become a political football tossed around the United States so much that the original concept is unrecognizable to those who originated it in the 1970s. It is a legal framework that examines the complexities of racial discrimination, and it is connected to power, gender, and other societal categories. Contrary to popular opinion, CRT has never been taught in elementary schools, let alone other secondary classrooms. This podcast is designed to separate fact from fiction so that you will be a more informed listener as you share this podcast with others. Definitely discuss it so that your friends, family, and colleagues can learn from the accurate perspective you share with them.
=======================
Websites:
www.mssglobalsummit.com
(Carole's Online DEI Course that discusses CRT as part of her membership)
Online Course:
Promoting DEIBM Advocacy In A World Of Misinformation
Books:
Faces At The Botton Of The Well
Atty. Derrick Bell
Race, Rights, & Redemption: The Derrick Bell Lectures on The Law and Critical Race Theory
Janet Dewart Bell
Critical Race Theory: The Key Writings That Formed The Movement
Edited by Kimberlé Crenshaw
White By Law: The Legal Construction of Race
Ian Haney López
Next Episode
EPISODE #027: Why Black Greek Organizations Exist: Sororities, Fraternities, & Their History In America
Steeped in history going back to the early 1900s, nine Black fraternities and sororities have paved the way to economic progress, educational aptitude, and social relevance throughout Black communities across the United States. They are a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, founded in 1930, and it remains a vibrant organization in our nation to this day.
I am a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, one of the "Divine Nine." Vice President Kamala Harris is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and pledged on the campus of Howard University. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. The list goes on and on with celebrities and notables who represent all nine organizations.
Today will look deeper into Black Greek organizations and see why they are important and how they are relevant in today's times. For some, they are simply elitist, irrelevant, and archaic groups mimicking White organizations. I completely refute that and will tell you why in this podcast! You'll also learn how racism fueled the success of each one of these groups.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council consists of the following nine organizations:
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
Learn more at The National Pan-Hellenic website, which links to all nine Greek organizations. https://www.nphchq.com
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