November 12, 2024 • 46 mins
Today on SmallTownUSA, we’re talking about the ultimate underdog crew: women in American history who did way more than sit in rocking chairs and drink tea. We’re bringing you the legends who invented “don’t mess with me” long before that was a thing, but who aren't getting the credit they deserved. We're talking hardcore heroines that provided financial freedom for their communites, spent decades making sure civil and women's rights weren't just buzzwords, ran a one-woman safety net...etc. These women didn't just shake up their communtiies -- they shook up the country.Join Jessica and Karmen, as they chat about history’s true trailblazers—the women who laughed in the face of “you can’t” and just went ahead and did it anyway. Prepare for plenty of “wait, WHAT?” moments and maybe a little bit of envy. Don't miss your Exit
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Navigating to small town US A.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Workers for one. Are we Chalian Buenos Dias, Yes, ka Dia.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
We had to shake it up. You really caught me
up guard there. I thought you were gonna be hello, Jessica.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I'm just uh, polish it off my oldest span yo.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Right, Oh, I don't know. You made me laugh. I'm glad,
and I'm glad for it. Thank you, Carl, Thank you
for always keeping it real. I think we all need
a good laugh.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
We definitely do. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Yeah, yeah, I'm trying to like stay real positive.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
You know.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
I think this whole week has been people have been
kind of at them, you know, going back and forth
and arguing, and so I'm trilling to be trying to
stay positive, you know. And I thought maybe today we
could share some positive stories about the women who really
made a mark in this country and the places that
(01:32):
they either were in or grew up in. I think
it would be a really good positive way to spend
this week.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Absolutely. I mean I always love to talk about powerful women. Yeah,
women who have made history. Yeah, and in a good way.
Unlike myself, you know, I agree, it's been a really
sort of yucky time and I felt like crying a lot.
(02:03):
And then I went out this weekend, you know, just
to run errands and things, and I met some really
nice people doing strangers. You know, I didn't meet them,
but I ran into these people, will say, and I
witnessed some very kind acts between strangers, just simple things
(02:29):
like a woman offering to take a cart to the
the cart station for somebody who was disabled, and uh,
things like that. And it gave me hope m hm
for America, because you know, we have shown that although
(02:50):
our attention span isn't very long as a society, when
the ship goes down, people do come together. And it's
taken some horrible tragedies in our country to bring people together,
even you know, if it was not long lived. You know,
(03:14):
nine to eleven was one.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Yeah, George Floyd's murder was another time that Americans all
came together, well for the majority of Americans, I think, yeah,
really came together and stood for something bigger than themselves,
something very important.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
And then, you know, like our attention span got the
best of us and we were back in our own world.
But I think that this might be a time for
America to just kind of join hands and come back together.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Yeah, I agree. I hope. I am hopeful too that
that through all this, hopefully we see we are able to,
like like you said, you noticed today so many just
as simple as taking a cart back for somebody who
really needed that, and you know, going forward, it's just
a simple acts of kindness that really brings like that
(04:10):
good feeling of hope, like, oh, things are going to
be okay, hopefully over the next course of however many years,
and we're going to pull through this. So yeah, I'm
looking for that too. And I think today as we
talk about these women who you may or may not know,
some you may know, some you might not. But I
think that's kind of the point here too, is to
(04:31):
kind of share that positivity and show like all the
good things that people are doing or have done, and
how it's affected us, you know, and it's affected our future. Yeah. So, Carmen,
I have somebody who I'm not sure if you know
this individual. Her name is Meggie Lena Walker and Megielena Walker.
(04:57):
Have you heard of her before?
Speaker 2 (04:58):
She was on my my volleyball team in high school?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Okay, well this next part might not be good news,
but she was born in eighteen sixty four. Yeah, so yeah,
she was the same person though.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, yeah, she was really good.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
She must have been supernatural, you might say, Well, Maggie
had an interesting life. She was very you know from
the get go. She was born to a former enslaved mother,
her mother, and she grew up in it. But she
grew up in the post Civil War era of struggle
(05:36):
and discrimination, and despite these obstacles, she rose to become
the first black woman in the United States to charter
a bank. All right, yeah, yeah. It was called Walker's
Saint Luke Penny Savings Bank, and it was founded in
nineteen oh three in Richmond, Virginia, and it provided financial independence,
(05:58):
independence I could get to talking today, and security for
the black community when few banks would serve them. Through
her work, Walker was also instrumental in advancing community health
and education, uplifting black lives in countless ways. And her
story is one of resilience and vision, of breaking financial
(06:19):
barriers and leaving a legacy of empowerment. So yeah, you know,
I've never heard of her before until I started looking
at these stories, and you'd think, you know, that's pretty
important story right there. That's a pretty amazing thing.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, yeah, it is. I mean two even today to
be a woman, you know, at the top of the
finance game. Still quite a man's world, right if you
think about it. But back then to be a black
woman and start a bank, mm wow, yeah, that's amazing
(06:55):
it is. Yeah, and I had a cute name too.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
I think so too. I always love of the Maggie.
I have a cousin Maggie. Really love that name, Maggie
Lee Walker, Lena Walker, Sorry, Lena.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
That's a great name. But I thought the name of
her bank was kind of cute.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Oh yes, Walker's Saint Luke Penny Savings Bank.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Any like that.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
So I wanted to talk about Susan B. Anthony because
I saw her. I saw something about her on television,
and I was like, oh, yeah, you know what we
used to talk about, Susan B. Anthony. We used to
talk about these certain women in grade school. Susan B. Anthony.
Of course, she had her own coin ah, and not
(07:42):
many other women did. Saka jawea right. I don't know.
Maybe they'll make one for Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but I'm
not sure. So Susan B. Anthony, did you know that
she was raised a Quaker?
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Know, something like is jogging my memory? But I really
would end up known that, No, no, no, no.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Yeah. So but her she had a strong belief in
equality that inspired and guided her work throughout her life.
She fought to abolish slavery, and again, you know, this
was a time when those beliefs were not the norm currently,
and she was, you know, being a woman, a Quaker
(08:25):
woman where the men run the house sort of thing,
and she really had to step out to make a
name for herself. And a coin. Don't forget the coin.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Yeah, don't forget the kind of how many.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Times did you get so pissed off forgetting Susan B. Anthony?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Yeah, it's right for some reason.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Oh my god. The first one was like cool, you know,
and then you accidentally used it as a quarter, and
then you're just like mad every time you get one.
I'm still if somebody answered me a stack of sagage
a wheels or I am like stopped, so big surprise.
(09:07):
Susan B. Anthony never married.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Yeah, you know, she was.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Quite the looker, resembling maybe George Washington a little bit.
She she devoted her life to like abolishing slavery and
women's equality. She was a trailblazer obviously, and she said
(09:36):
that she wishes she had been born in another or
she could live another one hundred years another song.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
I don't know if she would have liked it though,
you know, like, can you imagine could.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
You imagine how how fulfilling it would have been to
have lived to see women voting and live all of
those things that that would have been one, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
That would have been great to see that. Yeah absolutely,
I was looking at it from a different standpoint, but yeah,
definitely it would have been cool to see those things
come into frutition. But I would think that she might
also go, well, why didn't this happen? Or why didn't
we get farther? Why haven't we done more? Don't you think?
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Quite possibly? But then again, you know you'd have to say, Susan,
calm yourself, slow your role. I call her Susan, Susan,
Susan b slow your role. I mean, you started this.
I think I think what I was going for, though,
there is that, you know, when she was coming up,
(10:44):
women just had to work hard, too, I mean even
double hard to get the things, you know, to be heard,
to have their to be seen, to have their voices heard.
And it was very much so a male dominated world.
And now you know, I hate to say it, but honestly,
(11:07):
if you're cute, yeah, you have a huge advantage. If
you're ye have firm schaches, and you're good looking. It's
the truth.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
No, I get it, you know, I define for women,
it really is. I yeah, definitely, appearance is a thing
for women, absolutely, And the older you get, the more
reserved you feel about that, or the more you feel
like you have to do more just to get more,
which is not actually not through it. You know, with
(11:40):
our society, it does feel like women have to continue
to be like that in order to be promoted or
to be to get what they need, you know, women's health.
I mean, geez, that's a whole other situation. It's just
it's unfortunate. But yeah, really absolutely true.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
You know, how did somebody like Susan b. Anthony get
a coin? And you know, women when they start, you know,
experiencing hot flashes and getting their beard, when their mustache
starts coming in during metopause, all of a sudden, they're
being passed over for promotions and they're like ready to
take them out and put them out of their misery.
(12:18):
You know, it's like, oh my gosh, she's not able
to have kids anymore, So what the hell good is she?
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Mm hmmmmm.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Yeah, it's just it's our society really needs to take
a step back and look at women in a different
in a different light.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Yeah, absolutely absolutely, I'll burn my bra I'll do it
right now, burn all my bras. We could just be probless.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
That'd be great. Well, okay, so there are countries where
women are brawls and you know they have less incidents
of breast cancer.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Oh yeah, we just got through.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
A breast cancer awareness month, so I would say, we
don't even have to burn them. You know what, let's
donate our brawls. You know, I'm just picturing.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Like one of those nudist camps. But it's not a
news camps. It's just like one of those brawlis spas,
just like a brolist woman's retreat.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Yeah yeah, and you don't need to sorry, I don't mind.
I think that's a good idea, you know that. Here's
I'm going to tell you some great things about being
you know, like getting old. Okay, so if you don't
have any place to put your gloves or your kerchief,
stick stick it under your boob. They'll stay for it
(13:40):
all day, so you could have you know, put your
sunscreen there. If you're at a new distplace or a
nude beach, sure just stick your sunscreen right under your cheek.
There you go.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
I know, I'm laughing because I know it's true. I
know that that's a true statement. It's funny because it's real.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
It is real, and it's something that I didn't say
Israel I said it is real.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
I know, I got.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Yeah, I'm sorry I derailed this very serious conversation about
women in history. But what about women right now? Like,
think about what women must be feeling right now after
the election freaking out right. You know we're not Susan b. Anthony. No,
we're not Maggie Lena Right, we're not Maggie Lena Walker.
(14:36):
We get I'm not starting a bank. You know what
about just like regular women who just want to be
able to get a pop smear or a mammogram.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Yeah, just normal health stuff or something for me. It's
just normal. Hey, can you look into this a little
further than what anybody else, what other people are getting,
you know what I mean, like just the sense that
it'll be taking care of us, not the other serious
issues that I'm up for debate on. You know, it's
the things that are like the general medical care, you know,
(15:11):
someone to pay more attention to perimenopause, menopause in general,
women's house hormones, you know, coming you know, coming together
and actually studying it a little bit more. I don't
know if you heard this, but like it wasn't until
recent maybe the one who told me this, so I
could be just quoting you are here, but uh that
(15:31):
the reason why you know we have pads you know,
that don't work very efficiently is because only like a
couple of years ago did they actually start using blood
to measure their ability to work. So previously we're just
using I don't know, water, what are we using on
these things? Water and to decipher And it's because they
(15:55):
were being tested by men. And so here we are,
like how many years into actually having sanitary pads or
maxipads or whatever, and they haven't even ever been tested
with blood. You've got to be kidding me. It's such
a different thing. And so it's just shocking how much.
I mean, it's not really shocking when you think about
(16:16):
the factors of why things are the way they are,
but it is shocking to know that women have been
that disrespected enough to not really care about every single
woman issue. Doesn't matter who you are as a woman,
you have that issue, and it's not the same for everybody.
So it's just I don't know, you know what I mean,
(16:38):
you know it it makes me frustrated.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
But when I was in school, we weren't allowed to
sit out of PE when we had our periods, right,
and mine were much worse than most people. And you know,
not to get into all the gore of it, but
(17:02):
I've always had a very heavy menstrel period and you know,
also significant cramping to the point of passing out at times.
I just thought that's how it.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Was, and I think women are taught that that's just
how it is.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
It's just a part of life. Because my mom is
a tough woman. My mom is a badass, and so
she had the same issues, and you know, it was
just like, yeah, this is what it is, so just
deal and so I did. But we weren't allowed to
set out during PE when we're doing things like you know,
really important ship like crab soccer and yeah, remember crab soccer,
(17:39):
Like no nobody had fingernails. Crab soccer or climbing a rope.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Which which you had to test out of. Oh that
was the president.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Oh yeah, yeah, how low you get hanged by your chin?
You know all of these things that, yes, I think
it's important for kids to be physically fit, but if
a girl needs to sit out for three days during
a week, they should be allowed to. But meanwhile, when
it was time to go swimming, we all got we're
(18:15):
all sat down and if you're on your period, you're
not allowed to swim. So not only did they isolate it,
so like now everybody because we didn't share a locker
room with the boys, but we all came out into
the pool area. So now everybody knows the girls that
are sitting on the bleachers are the bleeders. Yep. And
we had that.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Same thing even into you know when I was in
school for swim class, had to test out a swim class.
But yeah, during you get to just say just give
the coach thumbs up with you know what's going on,
and go head up to the bleachers for the week.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Yeah, head up to the bleachers because we're doing swimming
this week. And it's like, you know what, that's the
one thing that I probably wanted to do. I got
this baby suit that I really want to try out.
It's gold lamy for crying out loud. Yeah, that was
not that long ago. I mean, those are obviously things
that have happened, and we are a decade apart, maybe
(19:11):
more so, actually more than a decade apart.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Yeah, very much, Yeah, happening.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Yeah, and those are the kind of things that are
very concerning, Like instead of getting to know what a
young girl must be going through and actually trying to
support her, we just ostracize her like they did in
the eighteen hundreds before.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Yeah, like you know, back when the women were the
in one tent, you know, in a village because everybody
they were, you know, cursed for that week.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Yes, and they call it a curse and you know,
so yeah and it so just recently I saw a
commercial speaking of the feminine hygiene products. I just recently
saw a commercial where they started using red colored water
just as the pad instead of the blue water that
(20:05):
I can't even tell you. I started my period really young,
so I wanted a blue period, like.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Yeah, yeah, so funny. Yeah, I mean the things you
must think, if you know, when you see those commercials.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I mean, I wasn't so naive to think that blood
was ever going to be blue. But yeah, they don't
even I mean, the people are so freaked out over
the menstrual cycle of a woman that they can't even
show red liquid on television because people are gonna they
might be eating what if there's boys in the room
and you know, Okay, So back to women's health, Yeah,
(20:43):
you know, you're right, Like it's just there's not equality
in women's studies like to study the female body and
the reproductive organs of a woman. Whenever a woman is
having any issues, whether it's into betriosis fives, you know,
whatever the case may be that is causing irregularities, pain
(21:05):
and discomfort, their first, their first and usually final suggestion
or diagnosis is hys direct me mm hmm, yeah, to
remove that uterus. But they don't do the same thing
for men. No. You know, if men get testicular cancer,
(21:27):
they will you know, try to remove it delicately. They'll
try to keep one testical intact. They'll give them, you know,
it's automatic. I think that they get the prosthetic testicle
to go in there so it looks right like how
many people are looking at your balls, am?
Speaker 1 (21:45):
I right, Yeah, it's true. It's true. I know there's
not equal. It's not not equal. It's not equal. I
can tell you just from one experience alone, you know,
having very painful symptoms of during that time of the month,
(22:06):
I sought out help from many, even women. O g
b y n's O b g y N's not o GB.
I don't know who those are og b y n.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
B yn.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
It's just so like me to mix up things. Oh
my god, o b g y ns you know, female doctors,
and so one of the things that I was told
along my way with you know, because I think at
one point you start feeling like you're crazy, like this
pain must just be in my head, like what what
else could it be? And the pain was in my
(22:41):
stomach and up into my chest like it was a
serious pain, and I thought I was dying, Like I thought,
this pain is so bad that I'm dying.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
You know.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
It caused multiple emergency room visits. I know I've talked
to you about this, but basically the response I for
all until up until my last person who actually cared
about my situation and listened to me. The last thing
that I remember her telling me was basically well, you know,
(23:15):
you're just anxious. Anxiousness and stress can cause you to
feel like you're panicking, and so a lot of women
on their periods panic and so that's probably what this is.
And she was ready to give me some sort of
anxiety medication, but was the anxiety was because I wasn't
getting help and because I was having these pains, I
(23:36):
felt like I was dying. And that's the kind of
care women get. They do not get the same type
of respect or treatment that somebody a male, for instance,
would walk into the room and have heart pains and
the severe pains and it would be a totally different story,
you know, But unfortunately it's a women's issue and so
(23:57):
must just be I must just be hysterical. I hate
that word. I'm just using it as a point to say,
that's kind of where people go with that. And it
does take doctors that ended up for me end up
being endometriosis and my appendix, So you know, like hello,
all it is important to keep pursuing those things, to
(24:18):
make sure that you get the right health care and
to understand that if it's really causing you issues, continue
on and find the right doctor who will listen to you.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
But you know, fortunate though, Jessica, because we have we
have health insurance, right right, So think about that people
who don't put health insurance. What about the women out
there who are working two jobs and don't.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Have health insurancely exactly what about.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
The young girls who are in school and I know
that they have they have some you know, campus medical
centers and things like that. But again, your treatment is
very limited if you're on a public public health or
(25:04):
you know, your treatment is very limited. And there is
a difference in how doctors treat people on access or
versus people with United Healthcare or you know, and other instance,
whatever the insurance might be, which is also you know,
(25:25):
a terrible disgrace.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Yeah, it's true, It's true. They look at the Yeah,
it depends. It is a pay thing. It is a
rate thing, and a lot of times those rates are
much lower, and which which is why a lot of
folks won't take the take the patients because of the
lower rate. My point in all of this is that
looking at Susan B. Anthony now and the things that
(25:48):
we just discussed, wouldn't you think she might be a
little disappointed And the way that we still haven't figured
things out for women and for obviously black black people
and black women both, right, absolutely, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Because as much as you and I can complain about
the issues we've had in the healthcare and you know,
navigating health care for women, because both of us have
had similar issues, you know, it's very easy to chalk
it up to hysteria or you just need your uterus
ripped out, but it's it's far worse for women of color.
It's far worse. And the rate of infant death and
(26:34):
the death of a mother during childbirth for black women
is horrendous for a for a modernized, civilized country that
we think we are, like, this is it's ridiculous, it is.
Why does that happen? Because they don't listen to women
and they listen to black women less.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
So I mean that's right, right, right, So I'm going
to move on through our list, even though we're discussing
some really really awesome things and important details, want to
bring it back to another woman who's really made a
positive impact in our in US and her name is
(27:17):
Jane Adams. And Jane Adams was a pioneer in social work. Yeah,
she co founded the Hull House in Chicago in eighteen
eighty nine, which was a groundbreaking community center that served
European immigrants. Through Hull House, Adams offered education, healthcare, and
childcare for vulnerable, vulnerable communities that often filled the gaps
(27:42):
that the city could not film. She also lobbied for
Chamber sorry for child labor laws, women's suffrage, and workers' rights.
In nineteen thirty one, she became the first American woman
to receive the Nobel Peace Prize wow ac custement to
her global influence in social reform and her dedication to
building inclusive, supportive communities. I think she probably led the
(28:07):
way for like you and I who are both in
social work. What didn't she say?
Speaker 2 (28:11):
I would say yes for sure. And again, you know,
the bravery is that it's not easy. It wasn't an
easy time for women. So to you know, step out
of your social norms and you know, really blaze a
trail for other women could have been terrifying. Did she
(28:32):
ever get married?
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Doesn't say I didn't look up that much. I didn't
read that much into her, But I would I potentially,
I would think so maybe maybe, I would say probably
not if she was a busy woman. It sounds like
well yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
And also, you know, men don't like women like that
back then we're married, Oh, we're married. Yeah, but I mean,
how's how's a man supposed to get his food? Who's
going to take care of the kids.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
If she's yeah right, right, right, yeah, you.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Can have a husband and be doing social work, you know.
So I'm gonna mention one last woman. Yeah, Esther Esther,
Esther Esther, the Hebrew queen. Oh yes, yeah, so she
(29:32):
prevented a genocide, right, amazing?
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Yes, yeah, then she.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Turned around and slaughtered the would be killers. How amazing
is that? Also based on the art from her time,
the the artist rendition of her, she was also a
curby gal.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Yeah yeah, so I mean we suspect, right, suspect?
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Well, yeah, how do we know? She could have just
been patting up with clothing. That's what I do. I'm
actually only a size for.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
We just have all the padding. I'm me too. I
just cover myself and pads just because.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
You know, because I want to down.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
Yeah, exactly. Also helps with the sweating.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
It also helps with all the unwonted attention from men.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Yeah, are you.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Tired of men suddenly bringing you flowers? Put on a
fat suit.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Oh my gosh, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
I'm really I'm really just being a bitchy, bitchy lady today.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
No you're not. No, you're not.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
I'm not. You know what. I'm just being an honest
person today. You are.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
That's okay, that's it. Okay, it's good.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
See even I have that self self doubt as a woman, like,
oh my gosh, am I being too honest? So I
just do I sound like a nag?
Speaker 1 (31:03):
No?
Speaker 2 (31:04):
No, no, I'm stating that for when my husband gets home.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
I have a couple more women I'm gonna read. I'm
just gonna read through the list here.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Okay, Okay, I'll be quiet.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
No, don't be quiet. I want your input on these women. Okay.
Delores Huerta, I'm assuming it's Werta.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Uh huh, yep, Werta. Yes.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
She was born in nineteen thirty as a labor leader,
a civil rights activist, and co founder of the emerit
of the United farm Workers Union with Caesar Chavez.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
So yeah, you never hear about her, do you?
Speaker 1 (31:40):
No?
Speaker 2 (31:40):
But everybody everybody thinks about Cessar Chavez when they eat
a strawberry.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Yep. From organizing Great boycotts to lobbying for laws improving
workers' conditions. Wherta has tirelessly advocated for fair treatment of
farm workers, many of whom were exploited and marginalized. Her
iconic friend, Oh my god, I'm not gonna say this
right because it's a Spanish see, which means yes, which
(32:11):
means yes we can became a rallying cry for the
workers' rights and social justice movements. Puerta's legacy is one
of bold activism, advocating for the rights and dignity of
laborers across the US.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
You always hear of Caesar sho. I mean, there's a
Caesar Shavas Day. Literally, I know, I know, But here
we are. Next time that we have Caesar Shavas Day,
I'm going to be like, it's Dolores where this day.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Let's do it. Let's do it. Yeah, Yeah, I agree.
I think that's probably how we should roll. Yeah, especially
in this this part of the country where there are
still a lot of migrant farm workers.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Exactly exactly. Elizabeth Katie Stanton. I believe it's Katie. It
looks like Caddie, but I'm pretty sure it's Katie. Elizabeth
Katie Stanton was born in eighteen fifteen as and was
a pivotal figure in the US women's rights movement. Alongside
Susan B. Anthony, Stanton organized the first Women's Rights Convention
(33:19):
in Seneca Falls, New York in eighteen forty eight. Her
Declaration of Sentiments, modified after the Declaration of Independence, called
for women's equal rights in voting, education, and employment through
women's suffrage. Sorry. Though women's suffrage was not achieved in
her lifetime, Stanton's groundbreaking ideas and fierce dedication were foundational
(33:42):
to the eventual passing of the nineteenth Amendment.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
Everybody stops after the second Amendment, So got you.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
You're funny, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Like, yeah, everybody stopped reading?
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Yeah right, oh wait, no fifth Amendment is the fifth
Yeah yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
I think, but they skipped the third.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
They went from one two and then they just went
one to five five.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
Albody knows that.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
One, you know, but well they kind of think they do,
I please.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Yeah, yeah right. So the next one is Zora Neil
Hurston and zora' Neil. Zora Neil Hurston was born in
eighteen ninety one. She was a writer, anthropologist, and central
figure of the Harlem Renaissance. She was raised in Eatonville, Flora, Flora,
Da Not Flora. I don't know. Again, my brain, my
(34:37):
brain and my mouth are not keeping up with each other.
Here one of the first all black towns in the US.
Hurston drew on her rich Southern roots to write novels
like Their Eyes Were Watching God, exploring black life, love,
and identity. Her work as an anthropologist preserved African American
folk culture and traditions, bringing these stories to a national
(35:01):
audience and leaving a powerful legacy that celebrates Black Southern heritage.
So I have you read that the Eyes, their eyes
were watching God? Have you heard of that one before? No? Well,
if you live in Florida, you probably don't know. Oh sorry,
you know, you know. I'm not sure it's on the
bandless but the band list, but sorry, I'm not sure
(35:25):
it's a good one. Though I did read it, it was
a very long time ago. I probably should take it
out again. But it's a really, really good novel. Highly
highly suggest reading it. The info I will, I will, yeah.
Maya Linn this is my la actually second to last
person today because I just found so many fascinating women.
(35:48):
Maya Lynn was only a college student when she won
the design competition for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington,
d C.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
Oh wow, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
She was born to China. These immigrants in nineteen fifteen.
I see a pattern here, immigrants nineteen fifty nine. Lin's design,
which was simple black granite walls etched with the name
of fallen soldiers.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Right.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
We all know that was initially controversial for its design,
which was like a minimalist approach. Over time, however, it
has become a revered space for reflection and healing. Lin's work,
characterized by its deep thoughtfulness and blending of art and nature,
includes memorials of installations that address memory, history and human impact.
(36:34):
So that memorial I have once. I was there once
on a trip. It's really awesome. Have you have you
been there to Carmen?
Speaker 2 (36:43):
I have as an adult too, and it's I was,
I was astounded at the how many names are there?
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Yeah, but also yeah, the.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
Impact that memorial had on me was intense. It was
it was an intense emotional impact. I can't even I
can't even put in toowards.
Speaker 1 (37:16):
I still think that every single name on that which
is huge, by the way, it's huge, and this is
so small right, you know, the small print, and just
one after the other after the other after the other.
It is it's crazy to be able to see that,
and I actually have an etching from it. You know
how you're I don't know if you're allowed, if you've
(37:36):
ever seen people do that, but basically, you have a
piece of paper, yeah, and you find a name. I
just want a name that really stuck out to me.
I didn't I don't know, I don't have a relation
to this person. But you take a pencil on you
because it's an ingrainent, so you can get like the
sketch of that name. So I have a piece of that. Technically,
it's very it's very cool to have something like that
(37:59):
because as it was, it is such an impactful memorial.
But to think that this memorial was designed by women
Chinese immigrants are parents who parents were Chinese immigrants. But
still it's like, you know, I didn't know that before.
I didn't know that such a huge piece that had
(38:21):
such an impact, has such an impact on many people,
was something that you know, was thought of and designed
specifically for that reason and by a woman.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
That's amazing. Yeah, I saw people there who like would
seek out their family's name and do the etching, and
it was you know, I can still see it vividly.
But you know, back to the Chinese immigrant, child of
two Chinese immigrants, I've found that some of the most
patriotic American loving people are immigrants or children of immigrants.
(39:00):
First generation still believe in the America that we want
to be.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Yeah. Absolutely, Well. The reason for immigration, as you know,
is because there are a lot of times escaping or
coming to a better life. I mean, why else do
we do we go somewhere, you know, why else do
we leave our home in our country behind because we
were hoping for Yeah, for the food, of course, no,
(39:30):
but you know what I mean, like I do, Yeah,
you're looking for a better life. And so I often
think that most cases that's the way, and that's how
I view immigration. Yeah, last one for today. In the
nineteen thirties, Mary Joyce manage a remote Oh, this is
(39:52):
going to be really a hard one for me. Taku
Taku Glacier Ladge. It's it's it's in Alaska's Alaska. Yeah,
u Taku okay Tacu Glacier Lodge a base. She used
to redefine what is meant to be what is meant
to be a woman In Alaska, she became the first
female radio operator in the territory and made national headlines
(40:15):
when in December nineteen thirty five she set off. She
set off on a one thousand mile solo dog sled
journey from Juneo to Fairbanks. For three months. Mary faced
grueling six negative sixty degrees temperatures and rugged isolated trails
without modern communication, and her adventure didn't just stop there.
(40:38):
In World War Two, Mary assisted the Navy by transporting
radio equipment via dog sled and even consulting on Alaska
Canadian Canada Highway project. So the highway that runs where
she shared her survival sorry survival skills, look of me.
I can't talk today with the troops. Her expertise in
the Alaskan wilderness helped in mapping out new air routes
(41:01):
in this vast region. Mary was also known as a
hunting guide, a pilot, and a nurse that were very
rarely filled by women at that time. So she has
really put a She had a lot of things she
was doing, and I you know this, I don't remember her.
I don't remember learning about her as possible. I remember
(41:23):
learning about dog sleds and the expeditions. But do you
ever remember hearing about cool person who you know was
out there doing this herself and she made sure that
like basically the Navy had radio equipment by going on
dog sled That's crazy, that's so cool.
Speaker 2 (41:44):
Oh, I know that you don't care about that, because yeah,
I'm gonna just say this. Women always take care of
the things that need to be taken care of. Yeah,
and it's just assumed that they will because they always have.
So why give them recognition when we're gonna do it anyway? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (42:02):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, overall, what I've learned from this,
and there are thousands of more women that have stories
like these, thousands Carmen, and probably more than that, right,
because even today women are making history. And so to me,
this is such a such a topic that I really
(42:23):
really encourage people to look up. I surely didn't learn
about all these things in school. And I know that
there's not year's worth of time to just study women's
history and rights, you know, and that sort of thing
the culture, but you know, it's certainly were there, certainly
could have been more of that, And I did feel
like I had a good education. I'm not speaking to that,
(42:43):
but I think this should have been brought up more.
These are just some examples of that the things that
we've lost over time that we need to relook at again.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
Absolutely, I totally agree. I think my education was good
for us there. But yeah, they didn't talk. They should
balance it out. We learned about all of the freaking
wars that men started. Yeah, how about some of the
things that you know, other people did to repair the
damage from those wars, to aid in fighting those wars,
(43:19):
you know, from behind the front lines. And for the record,
women weren't allowed to be on the front lines, right,
So it's not like women were at home going you know,
I can't go, I can't go. I'm sure there were
women that would have willingly.
Speaker 1 (43:33):
Thought absolutely, and they were fighting for it at that time.
Speaker 2 (43:36):
I know they were not getting the recognition and definitely
not getting the resources thrown at them that you know,
men would get.
Speaker 1 (43:45):
Yeah, I think, yeah, I think that there's definitely ways
that we can go out there and learn more. And
maybe maybe if we start talking about these things now,
and we start educating our folks and this country starts
looking out all these and learning about all the kool
ways women have stepped up, become leaders and pushed forward
(44:07):
with all these amazing marks on our US history. As
they say that maybe there would be more of that,
maybe there'd be more women empowered today, maybe it would
be different.
Speaker 2 (44:20):
Do you think maybe we just had an election.
Speaker 1 (44:26):
But maybe it would have been different. Okay, I'm not sure,
but you know what, I think that regardless, we have
to start talking more about the things that women have
gone through to get us here today where we are,
and hopefully that inspires more women to do more.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
Okay, can we just start calling it uterine fortitude?
Speaker 1 (44:48):
It doesn't have a ring to it.
Speaker 2 (44:52):
Intestinal fortitude does. I don't know in fortitude? Intestinal fortitude
doesn't sound great. I mean, who wants to talk about
intestines and all that means is like courage and determination
to do something difficult or unpleasant? Right, So why not
call it uterine fortitude? Okay, I'm changing it right now?
Speaker 1 (45:14):
Okay, all right, all right, she has she.
Speaker 2 (45:17):
Has the uterine fortitude to make it happen.
Speaker 1 (45:20):
Yes she does, Yeah she does. See sipwite se pity.
Speaker 2 (45:26):
Whoa yay women rocket over ease.
Speaker 1 (45:33):
Thanks everyone for joining us today on Small Town USA.
If you want to hear more small Town hit subscribe now,
go ahead, I'll wait. Make sure you check out the
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follow us now now leaving small Town USA.
Speaker 2 (45:55):
Small Town USA is a production of nineteen Media Group.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
If you would like to feature or your small town
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Speaker 2 (46:08):
Thank you for joining us, and come again real soon.
Navigating to small town US A.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Workers for one. Are we Chalian Buenos Dias, Yes, ka Dia.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
We had to shake it up. You really caught me
up guard there. I thought you were gonna be hello, Jessica.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I'm just uh, polish it off my oldest span yo.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Right, Oh, I don't know. You made me laugh. I'm glad,
and I'm glad for it. Thank you, Carl, Thank you
for always keeping it real. I think we all need
a good laugh.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
We definitely do. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Yeah, yeah, I'm trying to like stay real positive.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
You know.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
I think this whole week has been people have been
kind of at them, you know, going back and forth
and arguing, and so I'm trilling to be trying to
stay positive, you know. And I thought maybe today we
could share some positive stories about the women who really
made a mark in this country and the places that
(01:32):
they either were in or grew up in. I think
it would be a really good positive way to spend
this week.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Absolutely. I mean I always love to talk about powerful women. Yeah,
women who have made history. Yeah, and in a good way.
Unlike myself, you know, I agree, it's been a really
sort of yucky time and I felt like crying a lot.
(02:03):
And then I went out this weekend, you know, just
to run errands and things, and I met some really
nice people doing strangers. You know, I didn't meet them,
but I ran into these people, will say, and I
witnessed some very kind acts between strangers, just simple things
(02:29):
like a woman offering to take a cart to the
the cart station for somebody who was disabled, and uh,
things like that. And it gave me hope m hm
for America, because you know, we have shown that although
(02:50):
our attention span isn't very long as a society, when
the ship goes down, people do come together. And it's
taken some horrible tragedies in our country to bring people together,
even you know, if it was not long lived. You know,
(03:14):
nine to eleven was one.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Yeah, George Floyd's murder was another time that Americans all
came together, well for the majority of Americans, I think, yeah,
really came together and stood for something bigger than themselves,
something very important.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
And then, you know, like our attention span got the
best of us and we were back in our own world.
But I think that this might be a time for
America to just kind of join hands and come back together.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Yeah, I agree. I hope. I am hopeful too that
that through all this, hopefully we see we are able to,
like like you said, you noticed today so many just
as simple as taking a cart back for somebody who
really needed that, and you know, going forward, it's just
a simple acts of kindness that really brings like that
(04:10):
good feeling of hope, like, oh, things are going to
be okay, hopefully over the next course of however many years,
and we're going to pull through this. So yeah, I'm
looking for that too. And I think today as we
talk about these women who you may or may not know,
some you may know, some you might not. But I
think that's kind of the point here too, is to
(04:31):
kind of share that positivity and show like all the
good things that people are doing or have done, and
how it's affected us, you know, and it's affected our future. Yeah. So, Carmen,
I have somebody who I'm not sure if you know
this individual. Her name is Meggie Lena Walker and Megielena Walker.
(04:57):
Have you heard of her before?
Speaker 2 (04:58):
She was on my my volleyball team in high school?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Okay, well this next part might not be good news,
but she was born in eighteen sixty four. Yeah, so yeah,
she was the same person though.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, yeah, she was really good.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
She must have been supernatural, you might say, Well, Maggie
had an interesting life. She was very you know from
the get go. She was born to a former enslaved mother,
her mother, and she grew up in it. But she
grew up in the post Civil War era of struggle
(05:36):
and discrimination, and despite these obstacles, she rose to become
the first black woman in the United States to charter
a bank. All right, yeah, yeah. It was called Walker's
Saint Luke Penny Savings Bank, and it was founded in
nineteen oh three in Richmond, Virginia, and it provided financial independence,
(05:58):
independence I could get to talking today, and security for
the black community when few banks would serve them. Through
her work, Walker was also instrumental in advancing community health
and education, uplifting black lives in countless ways. And her
story is one of resilience and vision, of breaking financial
(06:19):
barriers and leaving a legacy of empowerment. So yeah, you know,
I've never heard of her before until I started looking
at these stories, and you'd think, you know, that's pretty
important story right there. That's a pretty amazing thing.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, yeah, it is. I mean two even today to
be a woman, you know, at the top of the
finance game. Still quite a man's world, right if you
think about it. But back then to be a black
woman and start a bank, mm wow, yeah, that's amazing
(06:55):
it is. Yeah, and I had a cute name too.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
I think so too. I always love of the Maggie.
I have a cousin Maggie. Really love that name, Maggie
Lee Walker, Lena Walker, Sorry, Lena.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
That's a great name. But I thought the name of
her bank was kind of cute.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Oh yes, Walker's Saint Luke Penny Savings Bank.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Any like that.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
So I wanted to talk about Susan B. Anthony because
I saw her. I saw something about her on television,
and I was like, oh, yeah, you know what we
used to talk about, Susan B. Anthony. We used to
talk about these certain women in grade school. Susan B. Anthony.
Of course, she had her own coin ah, and not
(07:42):
many other women did. Saka jawea right. I don't know.
Maybe they'll make one for Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but I'm
not sure. So Susan B. Anthony, did you know that
she was raised a Quaker?
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Know, something like is jogging my memory? But I really
would end up known that, No, no, no, no.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Yeah. So but her she had a strong belief in
equality that inspired and guided her work throughout her life.
She fought to abolish slavery, and again, you know, this
was a time when those beliefs were not the norm currently,
and she was, you know, being a woman, a Quaker
(08:25):
woman where the men run the house sort of thing,
and she really had to step out to make a
name for herself. And a coin. Don't forget the coin.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Yeah, don't forget the kind of how many.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Times did you get so pissed off forgetting Susan B. Anthony?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Yeah, it's right for some reason.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Oh my god. The first one was like cool, you know,
and then you accidentally used it as a quarter, and
then you're just like mad every time you get one.
I'm still if somebody answered me a stack of sagage
a wheels or I am like stopped, so big surprise.
(09:07):
Susan B. Anthony never married.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Yeah, you know, she was.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Quite the looker, resembling maybe George Washington a little bit.
She she devoted her life to like abolishing slavery and
women's equality. She was a trailblazer obviously, and she said
(09:36):
that she wishes she had been born in another or
she could live another one hundred years another song.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
I don't know if she would have liked it though,
you know, like, can you imagine could.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
You imagine how how fulfilling it would have been to
have lived to see women voting and live all of
those things that that would have been one, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
That would have been great to see that. Yeah absolutely,
I was looking at it from a different standpoint, but yeah,
definitely it would have been cool to see those things
come into frutition. But I would think that she might
also go, well, why didn't this happen? Or why didn't
we get farther? Why haven't we done more? Don't you think?
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Quite possibly? But then again, you know you'd have to say, Susan,
calm yourself, slow your role. I call her Susan, Susan,
Susan b slow your role. I mean, you started this.
I think I think what I was going for, though,
there is that, you know, when she was coming up,
(10:44):
women just had to work hard, too, I mean even
double hard to get the things, you know, to be heard,
to have their to be seen, to have their voices heard.
And it was very much so a male dominated world.
And now you know, I hate to say it, but honestly,
(11:07):
if you're cute, yeah, you have a huge advantage. If
you're ye have firm schaches, and you're good looking. It's
the truth.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
No, I get it, you know, I define for women,
it really is. I yeah, definitely, appearance is a thing
for women, absolutely, And the older you get, the more
reserved you feel about that, or the more you feel
like you have to do more just to get more,
which is not actually not through it. You know, with
(11:40):
our society, it does feel like women have to continue
to be like that in order to be promoted or
to be to get what they need, you know, women's health.
I mean, geez, that's a whole other situation. It's just
it's unfortunate. But yeah, really absolutely true.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
You know, how did somebody like Susan b. Anthony get
a coin? And you know, women when they start, you know,
experiencing hot flashes and getting their beard, when their mustache
starts coming in during metopause, all of a sudden, they're
being passed over for promotions and they're like ready to
take them out and put them out of their misery.
(12:18):
You know, it's like, oh my gosh, she's not able
to have kids anymore, So what the hell good is she?
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Mm hmmmmm.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Yeah, it's just it's our society really needs to take
a step back and look at women in a different
in a different light.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Yeah, absolutely absolutely, I'll burn my bra I'll do it
right now, burn all my bras. We could just be probless.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
That'd be great. Well, okay, so there are countries where
women are brawls and you know they have less incidents
of breast cancer.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Oh yeah, we just got through.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
A breast cancer awareness month, so I would say, we
don't even have to burn them. You know what, let's
donate our brawls. You know, I'm just picturing.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Like one of those nudist camps. But it's not a
news camps. It's just like one of those brawlis spas,
just like a brolist woman's retreat.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Yeah yeah, and you don't need to sorry, I don't mind.
I think that's a good idea, you know that. Here's
I'm going to tell you some great things about being
you know, like getting old. Okay, so if you don't
have any place to put your gloves or your kerchief,
stick stick it under your boob. They'll stay for it
(13:40):
all day, so you could have you know, put your
sunscreen there. If you're at a new distplace or a
nude beach, sure just stick your sunscreen right under your cheek.
There you go.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
I know, I'm laughing because I know it's true. I
know that that's a true statement. It's funny because it's real.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
It is real, and it's something that I didn't say
Israel I said it is real.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
I know, I got.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Yeah, I'm sorry I derailed this very serious conversation about
women in history. But what about women right now? Like,
think about what women must be feeling right now after
the election freaking out right. You know we're not Susan b. Anthony. No,
we're not Maggie Lena Right, we're not Maggie Lena Walker.
(14:36):
We get I'm not starting a bank. You know what
about just like regular women who just want to be
able to get a pop smear or a mammogram.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Yeah, just normal health stuff or something for me. It's
just normal. Hey, can you look into this a little
further than what anybody else, what other people are getting,
you know what I mean, like just the sense that
it'll be taking care of us, not the other serious
issues that I'm up for debate on. You know, it's
the things that are like the general medical care, you know,
(15:11):
someone to pay more attention to perimenopause, menopause in general,
women's house hormones, you know, coming you know, coming together
and actually studying it a little bit more. I don't
know if you heard this, but like it wasn't until
recent maybe the one who told me this, so I
could be just quoting you are here, but uh that
(15:31):
the reason why you know we have pads you know,
that don't work very efficiently is because only like a
couple of years ago did they actually start using blood
to measure their ability to work. So previously we're just
using I don't know, water, what are we using on
these things? Water and to decipher And it's because they
(15:55):
were being tested by men. And so here we are,
like how many years into actually having sanitary pads or
maxipads or whatever, and they haven't even ever been tested
with blood. You've got to be kidding me. It's such
a different thing. And so it's just shocking how much.
I mean, it's not really shocking when you think about
(16:16):
the factors of why things are the way they are,
but it is shocking to know that women have been
that disrespected enough to not really care about every single
woman issue. Doesn't matter who you are as a woman,
you have that issue, and it's not the same for everybody.
So it's just I don't know, you know what I mean,
(16:38):
you know it it makes me frustrated.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
But when I was in school, we weren't allowed to
sit out of PE when we had our periods, right,
and mine were much worse than most people. And you know,
not to get into all the gore of it, but
(17:02):
I've always had a very heavy menstrel period and you know,
also significant cramping to the point of passing out at times.
I just thought that's how it.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Was, and I think women are taught that that's just
how it is.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
It's just a part of life. Because my mom is
a tough woman. My mom is a badass, and so
she had the same issues, and you know, it was
just like, yeah, this is what it is, so just
deal and so I did. But we weren't allowed to
set out during PE when we're doing things like you know,
really important ship like crab soccer and yeah, remember crab soccer,
(17:39):
Like no nobody had fingernails. Crab soccer or climbing a rope.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Which which you had to test out of. Oh that
was the president.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Oh yeah, yeah, how low you get hanged by your chin?
You know all of these things that, yes, I think
it's important for kids to be physically fit, but if
a girl needs to sit out for three days during
a week, they should be allowed to. But meanwhile, when
it was time to go swimming, we all got we're
(18:15):
all sat down and if you're on your period, you're
not allowed to swim. So not only did they isolate it,
so like now everybody because we didn't share a locker
room with the boys, but we all came out into
the pool area. So now everybody knows the girls that
are sitting on the bleachers are the bleeders. Yep. And
we had that.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Same thing even into you know when I was in
school for swim class, had to test out a swim class.
But yeah, during you get to just say just give
the coach thumbs up with you know what's going on,
and go head up to the bleachers for the week.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Yeah, head up to the bleachers because we're doing swimming
this week. And it's like, you know what, that's the
one thing that I probably wanted to do. I got
this baby suit that I really want to try out.
It's gold lamy for crying out loud. Yeah, that was
not that long ago. I mean, those are obviously things
that have happened, and we are a decade apart, maybe
(19:11):
more so, actually more than a decade apart.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Yeah, very much, Yeah, happening.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Yeah, and those are the kind of things that are
very concerning, Like instead of getting to know what a
young girl must be going through and actually trying to
support her, we just ostracize her like they did in
the eighteen hundreds before.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Yeah, like you know, back when the women were the
in one tent, you know, in a village because everybody
they were, you know, cursed for that week.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Yes, and they call it a curse and you know,
so yeah and it so just recently I saw a
commercial speaking of the feminine hygiene products. I just recently
saw a commercial where they started using red colored water
just as the pad instead of the blue water that
(20:05):
I can't even tell you. I started my period really young,
so I wanted a blue period, like.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Yeah, yeah, so funny. Yeah, I mean the things you
must think, if you know, when you see those commercials.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I mean, I wasn't so naive to think that blood
was ever going to be blue. But yeah, they don't
even I mean, the people are so freaked out over
the menstrual cycle of a woman that they can't even
show red liquid on television because people are gonna they
might be eating what if there's boys in the room
and you know, Okay, So back to women's health, Yeah,
(20:43):
you know, you're right, Like it's just there's not equality
in women's studies like to study the female body and
the reproductive organs of a woman. Whenever a woman is
having any issues, whether it's into betriosis fives, you know,
whatever the case may be that is causing irregularities, pain
(21:05):
and discomfort, their first, their first and usually final suggestion
or diagnosis is hys direct me mm hmm, yeah, to
remove that uterus. But they don't do the same thing
for men. No. You know, if men get testicular cancer,
(21:27):
they will you know, try to remove it delicately. They'll
try to keep one testical intact. They'll give them, you know,
it's automatic. I think that they get the prosthetic testicle
to go in there so it looks right like how
many people are looking at your balls, am?
Speaker 1 (21:45):
I right, Yeah, it's true. It's true. I know there's
not equal. It's not not equal. It's not equal. I
can tell you just from one experience alone, you know,
having very painful symptoms of during that time of the month,
(22:06):
I sought out help from many, even women. O g
b y n's O b g y N's not o GB.
I don't know who those are og b y n.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
B yn.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
It's just so like me to mix up things. Oh
my god, o b g y ns you know, female doctors,
and so one of the things that I was told
along my way with you know, because I think at
one point you start feeling like you're crazy, like this
pain must just be in my head, like what what
else could it be? And the pain was in my
(22:41):
stomach and up into my chest like it was a
serious pain, and I thought I was dying, Like I thought,
this pain is so bad that I'm dying.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
You know.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
It caused multiple emergency room visits. I know I've talked
to you about this, but basically the response I for
all until up until my last person who actually cared
about my situation and listened to me. The last thing
that I remember her telling me was basically well, you know,
(23:15):
you're just anxious. Anxiousness and stress can cause you to
feel like you're panicking, and so a lot of women
on their periods panic and so that's probably what this is.
And she was ready to give me some sort of
anxiety medication, but was the anxiety was because I wasn't
getting help and because I was having these pains, I
(23:36):
felt like I was dying. And that's the kind of
care women get. They do not get the same type
of respect or treatment that somebody a male, for instance,
would walk into the room and have heart pains and
the severe pains and it would be a totally different story,
you know, But unfortunately it's a women's issue and so
(23:57):
must just be I must just be hysterical. I hate
that word. I'm just using it as a point to say,
that's kind of where people go with that. And it
does take doctors that ended up for me end up
being endometriosis and my appendix, So you know, like hello,
all it is important to keep pursuing those things, to
(24:18):
make sure that you get the right health care and
to understand that if it's really causing you issues, continue
on and find the right doctor who will listen to you.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
But you know, fortunate though, Jessica, because we have we
have health insurance, right right, So think about that people
who don't put health insurance. What about the women out
there who are working two jobs and don't.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Have health insurancely exactly what about.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
The young girls who are in school and I know
that they have they have some you know, campus medical
centers and things like that. But again, your treatment is
very limited if you're on a public public health or
(25:04):
you know, your treatment is very limited. And there is
a difference in how doctors treat people on access or
versus people with United Healthcare or you know, and other instance,
whatever the insurance might be, which is also you know,
(25:25):
a terrible disgrace.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Yeah, it's true, It's true. They look at the Yeah,
it depends. It is a pay thing. It is a
rate thing, and a lot of times those rates are
much lower, and which which is why a lot of
folks won't take the take the patients because of the
lower rate. My point in all of this is that
looking at Susan B. Anthony now and the things that
(25:48):
we just discussed, wouldn't you think she might be a
little disappointed And the way that we still haven't figured
things out for women and for obviously black black people
and black women both, right, absolutely, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Because as much as you and I can complain about
the issues we've had in the healthcare and you know,
navigating health care for women, because both of us have
had similar issues, you know, it's very easy to chalk
it up to hysteria or you just need your uterus
ripped out, but it's it's far worse for women of color.
It's far worse. And the rate of infant death and
(26:34):
the death of a mother during childbirth for black women
is horrendous for a for a modernized, civilized country that
we think we are, like, this is it's ridiculous, it is.
Why does that happen? Because they don't listen to women
and they listen to black women less.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
So I mean that's right, right, right, So I'm going
to move on through our list, even though we're discussing
some really really awesome things and important details, want to
bring it back to another woman who's really made a
positive impact in our in US and her name is
(27:17):
Jane Adams. And Jane Adams was a pioneer in social work. Yeah,
she co founded the Hull House in Chicago in eighteen
eighty nine, which was a groundbreaking community center that served
European immigrants. Through Hull House, Adams offered education, healthcare, and
childcare for vulnerable, vulnerable communities that often filled the gaps
(27:42):
that the city could not film. She also lobbied for
Chamber sorry for child labor laws, women's suffrage, and workers' rights.
In nineteen thirty one, she became the first American woman
to receive the Nobel Peace Prize wow ac custement to
her global influence in social reform and her dedication to
building inclusive, supportive communities. I think she probably led the
(28:07):
way for like you and I who are both in
social work. What didn't she say?
Speaker 2 (28:11):
I would say yes for sure. And again, you know,
the bravery is that it's not easy. It wasn't an
easy time for women. So to you know, step out
of your social norms and you know, really blaze a
trail for other women could have been terrifying. Did she
(28:32):
ever get married?
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Doesn't say I didn't look up that much. I didn't
read that much into her, But I would I potentially,
I would think so maybe maybe, I would say probably
not if she was a busy woman. It sounds like
well yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
And also, you know, men don't like women like that
back then we're married, Oh, we're married. Yeah, but I mean,
how's how's a man supposed to get his food? Who's
going to take care of the kids.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
If she's yeah right, right, right, yeah, you.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Can have a husband and be doing social work, you know.
So I'm gonna mention one last woman. Yeah, Esther Esther,
Esther Esther, the Hebrew queen. Oh yes, yeah, so she
(29:32):
prevented a genocide, right, amazing?
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Yes, yeah, then she.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Turned around and slaughtered the would be killers. How amazing
is that? Also based on the art from her time,
the the artist rendition of her, she was also a
curby gal.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Yeah yeah, so I mean we suspect, right, suspect?
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Well, yeah, how do we know? She could have just
been patting up with clothing. That's what I do. I'm
actually only a size for.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
We just have all the padding. I'm me too. I
just cover myself and pads just because.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
You know, because I want to down.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
Yeah, exactly. Also helps with the sweating.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
It also helps with all the unwonted attention from men.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Yeah, are you.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Tired of men suddenly bringing you flowers? Put on a
fat suit.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Oh my gosh, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
I'm really I'm really just being a bitchy, bitchy lady today.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
No you're not. No, you're not.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
I'm not. You know what. I'm just being an honest
person today. You are.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
That's okay, that's it. Okay, it's good.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
See even I have that self self doubt as a woman, like,
oh my gosh, am I being too honest? So I
just do I sound like a nag?
Speaker 1 (31:03):
No?
Speaker 2 (31:04):
No, no, I'm stating that for when my husband gets home.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
I have a couple more women I'm gonna read. I'm
just gonna read through the list here.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Okay, Okay, I'll be quiet.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
No, don't be quiet. I want your input on these women. Okay.
Delores Huerta, I'm assuming it's Werta.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Uh huh, yep, Werta. Yes.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
She was born in nineteen thirty as a labor leader,
a civil rights activist, and co founder of the emerit
of the United farm Workers Union with Caesar Chavez.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
So yeah, you never hear about her, do you?
Speaker 1 (31:40):
No?
Speaker 2 (31:40):
But everybody everybody thinks about Cessar Chavez when they eat
a strawberry.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Yep. From organizing Great boycotts to lobbying for laws improving
workers' conditions. Wherta has tirelessly advocated for fair treatment of
farm workers, many of whom were exploited and marginalized. Her
iconic friend, Oh my god, I'm not gonna say this
right because it's a Spanish see, which means yes, which
(32:11):
means yes we can became a rallying cry for the
workers' rights and social justice movements. Puerta's legacy is one
of bold activism, advocating for the rights and dignity of
laborers across the US.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
You always hear of Caesar sho. I mean, there's a
Caesar Shavas Day. Literally, I know, I know, But here
we are. Next time that we have Caesar Shavas Day,
I'm going to be like, it's Dolores where this day.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Let's do it. Let's do it. Yeah, Yeah, I agree.
I think that's probably how we should roll. Yeah, especially
in this this part of the country where there are
still a lot of migrant farm workers.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Exactly exactly. Elizabeth Katie Stanton. I believe it's Katie. It
looks like Caddie, but I'm pretty sure it's Katie. Elizabeth
Katie Stanton was born in eighteen fifteen as and was
a pivotal figure in the US women's rights movement. Alongside
Susan B. Anthony, Stanton organized the first Women's Rights Convention
(33:19):
in Seneca Falls, New York in eighteen forty eight. Her
Declaration of Sentiments, modified after the Declaration of Independence, called
for women's equal rights in voting, education, and employment through
women's suffrage. Sorry. Though women's suffrage was not achieved in
her lifetime, Stanton's groundbreaking ideas and fierce dedication were foundational
(33:42):
to the eventual passing of the nineteenth Amendment.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
Everybody stops after the second Amendment, So got you.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
You're funny, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Like, yeah, everybody stopped reading?
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Yeah right, oh wait, no fifth Amendment is the fifth
Yeah yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
I think, but they skipped the third.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
They went from one two and then they just went
one to five five.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
Albody knows that.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
One, you know, but well they kind of think they do,
I please.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Yeah, yeah right. So the next one is Zora Neil
Hurston and zora' Neil. Zora Neil Hurston was born in
eighteen ninety one. She was a writer, anthropologist, and central
figure of the Harlem Renaissance. She was raised in Eatonville, Flora, Flora,
Da Not Flora. I don't know. Again, my brain, my
(34:37):
brain and my mouth are not keeping up with each other.
Here one of the first all black towns in the US.
Hurston drew on her rich Southern roots to write novels
like Their Eyes Were Watching God, exploring black life, love,
and identity. Her work as an anthropologist preserved African American
folk culture and traditions, bringing these stories to a national
(35:01):
audience and leaving a powerful legacy that celebrates Black Southern heritage.
So I have you read that the Eyes, their eyes
were watching God? Have you heard of that one before? No? Well,
if you live in Florida, you probably don't know. Oh sorry,
you know, you know. I'm not sure it's on the
bandless but the band list, but sorry, I'm not sure
(35:25):
it's a good one. Though I did read it, it was
a very long time ago. I probably should take it
out again. But it's a really, really good novel. Highly
highly suggest reading it. The info I will, I will, yeah.
Maya Linn this is my la actually second to last
person today because I just found so many fascinating women.
(35:48):
Maya Lynn was only a college student when she won
the design competition for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington,
d C.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
Oh wow, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
She was born to China. These immigrants in nineteen fifteen.
I see a pattern here, immigrants nineteen fifty nine. Lin's design,
which was simple black granite walls etched with the name
of fallen soldiers.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Right.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
We all know that was initially controversial for its design,
which was like a minimalist approach. Over time, however, it
has become a revered space for reflection and healing. Lin's work,
characterized by its deep thoughtfulness and blending of art and nature,
includes memorials of installations that address memory, history and human impact.
(36:34):
So that memorial I have once. I was there once
on a trip. It's really awesome. Have you have you
been there to Carmen?
Speaker 2 (36:43):
I have as an adult too, and it's I was,
I was astounded at the how many names are there?
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Yeah, but also yeah, the.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
Impact that memorial had on me was intense. It was
it was an intense emotional impact. I can't even I
can't even put in toowards.
Speaker 1 (37:16):
I still think that every single name on that which
is huge, by the way, it's huge, and this is
so small right, you know, the small print, and just
one after the other after the other after the other.
It is it's crazy to be able to see that,
and I actually have an etching from it. You know
how you're I don't know if you're allowed, if you've
(37:36):
ever seen people do that, but basically, you have a
piece of paper, yeah, and you find a name. I
just want a name that really stuck out to me.
I didn't I don't know, I don't have a relation
to this person. But you take a pencil on you
because it's an ingrainent, so you can get like the
sketch of that name. So I have a piece of that. Technically,
it's very it's very cool to have something like that
(37:59):
because as it was, it is such an impactful memorial.
But to think that this memorial was designed by women
Chinese immigrants are parents who parents were Chinese immigrants. But
still it's like, you know, I didn't know that before.
I didn't know that such a huge piece that had
(38:21):
such an impact, has such an impact on many people,
was something that you know, was thought of and designed
specifically for that reason and by a woman.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
That's amazing. Yeah, I saw people there who like would
seek out their family's name and do the etching, and
it was you know, I can still see it vividly.
But you know, back to the Chinese immigrant, child of
two Chinese immigrants, I've found that some of the most
patriotic American loving people are immigrants or children of immigrants.
(39:00):
First generation still believe in the America that we want
to be.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Yeah. Absolutely, Well. The reason for immigration, as you know,
is because there are a lot of times escaping or
coming to a better life. I mean, why else do
we do we go somewhere, you know, why else do
we leave our home in our country behind because we
were hoping for Yeah, for the food, of course, no,
(39:30):
but you know what I mean, like I do, Yeah,
you're looking for a better life. And so I often
think that most cases that's the way, and that's how
I view immigration. Yeah, last one for today. In the
nineteen thirties, Mary Joyce manage a remote Oh, this is
(39:52):
going to be really a hard one for me. Taku
Taku Glacier Ladge. It's it's it's in Alaska's Alaska. Yeah,
u Taku okay Tacu Glacier Lodge a base. She used
to redefine what is meant to be what is meant
to be a woman In Alaska, she became the first
female radio operator in the territory and made national headlines
(40:15):
when in December nineteen thirty five she set off. She
set off on a one thousand mile solo dog sled
journey from Juneo to Fairbanks. For three months. Mary faced
grueling six negative sixty degrees temperatures and rugged isolated trails
without modern communication, and her adventure didn't just stop there.
(40:38):
In World War Two, Mary assisted the Navy by transporting
radio equipment via dog sled and even consulting on Alaska
Canadian Canada Highway project. So the highway that runs where
she shared her survival sorry survival skills, look of me.
I can't talk today with the troops. Her expertise in
the Alaskan wilderness helped in mapping out new air routes
(41:01):
in this vast region. Mary was also known as a
hunting guide, a pilot, and a nurse that were very
rarely filled by women at that time. So she has
really put a She had a lot of things she
was doing, and I you know this, I don't remember her.
I don't remember learning about her as possible. I remember
(41:23):
learning about dog sleds and the expeditions. But do you
ever remember hearing about cool person who you know was
out there doing this herself and she made sure that
like basically the Navy had radio equipment by going on
dog sled That's crazy, that's so cool.
Speaker 2 (41:44):
Oh, I know that you don't care about that, because yeah,
I'm gonna just say this. Women always take care of
the things that need to be taken care of. Yeah,
and it's just assumed that they will because they always have.
So why give them recognition when we're gonna do it anyway? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (42:02):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, overall, what I've learned from this,
and there are thousands of more women that have stories
like these, thousands Carmen, and probably more than that, right,
because even today women are making history. And so to me,
this is such a such a topic that I really
(42:23):
really encourage people to look up. I surely didn't learn
about all these things in school. And I know that
there's not year's worth of time to just study women's
history and rights, you know, and that sort of thing
the culture, but you know, it's certainly were there, certainly
could have been more of that, And I did feel
like I had a good education. I'm not speaking to that,
(42:43):
but I think this should have been brought up more.
These are just some examples of that the things that
we've lost over time that we need to relook at again.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
Absolutely, I totally agree. I think my education was good
for us there. But yeah, they didn't talk. They should
balance it out. We learned about all of the freaking
wars that men started. Yeah, how about some of the
things that you know, other people did to repair the
damage from those wars, to aid in fighting those wars,
(43:19):
you know, from behind the front lines. And for the record,
women weren't allowed to be on the front lines, right,
So it's not like women were at home going you know,
I can't go, I can't go. I'm sure there were
women that would have willingly.
Speaker 1 (43:33):
Thought absolutely, and they were fighting for it at that time.
Speaker 2 (43:36):
I know they were not getting the recognition and definitely
not getting the resources thrown at them that you know,
men would get.
Speaker 1 (43:45):
Yeah, I think, yeah, I think that there's definitely ways
that we can go out there and learn more. And
maybe maybe if we start talking about these things now,
and we start educating our folks and this country starts
looking out all these and learning about all the kool
ways women have stepped up, become leaders and pushed forward
(44:07):
with all these amazing marks on our US history. As
they say that maybe there would be more of that,
maybe there'd be more women empowered today, maybe it would
be different.
Speaker 2 (44:20):
Do you think maybe we just had an election.
Speaker 1 (44:26):
But maybe it would have been different. Okay, I'm not sure,
but you know what, I think that regardless, we have
to start talking more about the things that women have
gone through to get us here today where we are,
and hopefully that inspires more women to do more.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
Okay, can we just start calling it uterine fortitude?
Speaker 1 (44:48):
It doesn't have a ring to it.
Speaker 2 (44:52):
Intestinal fortitude does. I don't know in fortitude? Intestinal fortitude
doesn't sound great. I mean, who wants to talk about
intestines and all that means is like courage and determination
to do something difficult or unpleasant? Right, So why not
call it uterine fortitude? Okay, I'm changing it right now?
Speaker 1 (45:14):
Okay, all right, all right, she has she.
Speaker 2 (45:17):
Has the uterine fortitude to make it happen.
Speaker 1 (45:20):
Yes she does, Yeah she does. See sipwite se pity.
Speaker 2 (45:26):
Whoa yay women rocket over ease.
Speaker 1 (45:33):
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