12/06/2022
Patsy Mink -- the first woman of color elected to the U.S. Congress and the co-author of the landmark women's educational equity Title IX Amendment -- was born on this day in 1927. A third generation Japanese American from Hawaii, Mink became engaged in political activism from a young age, in part motivated by witnessing the discrimination her father faced as the only Japanese American civil engineer working on Maui during the World War II period. In one of her early acts of political activism, when she moved to the mainland to attend the University of Nebraska, Mink organized a coalition of students, community members, and businesses to successfully bring an end to the university's long-standing policy of racially segregating student housing.
After graduating, she applied to twenty medical schools but was denied admission to all because none would accept women. Mink decided that the judicial process would be the best way to compel the schools to accept female students and shifted her focus to law. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1951. After returning to Hawaii, Mink was elected to the Hawaii Territorial Legislature and, after Hawaii became a state in 1959, she served in the Hawaii State Senate.
In 1965, Mink became the first woman of color elected to the U.S. Congress where she served from 1965-1977 and again from 1990 until her death in 2002. During her tenure in Congress, Mink gained a reputation as a vocal advocate for women's rights and civil rights, and was a leading opponent to the war in Vietnam. Although her outspokenness engendered criticism at times, Mink believed in standing by her ideals, famously stating: "It is easy enough to vote right and be consistently with the majority. But it is more often more important to be ahead of the majority and this means being willing to cut the first furrow in the ground and stand alone for a while if necessary."
One of her greatest legacies is the Title IX Amendment of the Higher Education Act, the breakthrough 1972 U.S. civil rights law which prohibits gender discrimination in any educational program or activity. Mink was one of the bill's principal authors and the driving force behind its passage; it was later renamed Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in her honor. Filmmaker Kimberlee Bassford, who made the documentary "Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority," describes Mink's influence as follows: "Mink's story captures the spirit of a generation of trailblazing women and shows that one person — armed with vision, drive, and perseverance — can make a difference. I never doubted that I would have the opportunity to go to college — even graduate school — and to play sports. Women of my generation take for granted the very things that Patsy Mink fought for."
Mink, who also became first Asian American to seek the presidential nomination during the 1972 election, passed away in 2002. Her death occurred one week after the 2002 primary election, too late for her name to be removed from the general election ballot. As a result, Mink was posthumously re-elected to Congress on November 5, 2002.
Patsy Mink's inspiring story has been told in the new picture book "Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight" for ages 5 to 9 (https://www.amightygirl.com/fall-down-seven-times-mink) and the new chapter book "She Persisted: Patsy Mink" for ages 6 to 9 (https://www.amightygirl.com/she-persisted-patsy-mink)
For two books for young readers about the importance of Title IX to girls, check out the picture book "An Equal Shot: How the Law Title IX Changed America" for ages 4 to 8 (https://www.amightygirl.com/an-equal-shot) and "Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX" for ages 11 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/let-me-play)
There is also a fantastic picture book about trailblazing women in sports - that includes an introduction to Title IX - for ages 6 to 9 at https://www.amightygirl.com/girls-with-guts
For more books for children and teens that celebrate women's contributions to politics today and in the past, check out our blog post, “Remember the Ladies: 25 Children's Books on Women in Politics” at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=11162
For more stories of female trailblazers in all fields including science, the arts, and athletics, visit A Mighty Girl's "Role Models" section at https://www.amightygirl.com/books/history-biography/biography
Post courtesy of A Mighty Girl
The world's largest collection of books, toys, and movies for parents, teachers, and others dedicated to raising smart, confident, and courageous girls.
