A Black Woman's Journey from Cotton Picking to College Professor: Lessons about Race, Class, and Gender in America (Black Studies and Critical Thinking)

__A Black Woman's Journey from Cotton Picking to College Professor: Lessons about Race, Class, and Gender in America__ traces the journey and transformation of Mildred Sirls, a young Black girl in rural east Texas in the 1930s who picked cotton to help her family survive, to Dr. Mildred Pratt, Professor Emerita of Social Work, who, by lifting as she climbed, influenced hundreds of students and empowered a community. As a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and scholar-activist, Mildred lived her core beliefs: she felt that it was important to validate individual human dignity; she recognized the power of determination and discipline as keys to success; and she had a commitment to empowering and serving others for the greater good of society. Such values not only characterized the life that she led, they are exemplified by the legacy she left. __A Black Woman's Journey from Cotton Picking to College Professor__ reflects those core values. It celebrates ordinary lives and individuals; it demonstrates the value of hard work; and it illustrates the motto of the National Association of Colored Women, “lifting as we climb.” __A Black Woman's Journey from Cotton Picking to College Professor__ can be used for courses in history, ethnic studies, African-American studies, English, literature, sociology, social work, and women’s studies. It will be of interest to sociologists, anthropologists, historians, political economists, philosophers, social justice advocates, humanists, humanitarians, faith-based activists, and philanthropists. Cover 1 Contents 13 List of Illustrations 17 Foreword by James D. Anderson 19 Acknowledgments 23 Part I: Sunrise 27 Chapter One: Introduction by Stephanie Shaw and Menah Pratt-Clarke 29 Historical Context 29 Personal Context 36 Overview 40 Notes 42 References 43 Chapter Two: The Critical Black Feminist Autobiography 47 Black Women’s Autobiography 47 Critical Black Feminism 50 Autobiographer’s Introduction 52 Notes 55 References 56 Chapter Three: Starting After Slavery 61 The Thirkill Family 61 The Sirls Family 65 Early Years 70 White People 73 Key Lessons 75 Photos 76 Notes 79 References 81 Chapter Four: Surviving the Great Depression 83 Daily Life 83 Church and Religion 92 Struggling to Survive 94 Key Lessons 97 Notes 99 References 100 Chapter Five: Segregated and Sharecropping 101 The Black White’s Houses 101 Cotton Pickin’, Corn Shuckin’, and Cow Milkin’ 107 Health and Medicine 109 Black Housing 111 Key Lessons 115 Notes 117 References 119 Chapter Six: Black Girlhood 121 The Secret 121 A Sister’s Death 123 “Mama’s Little Black Girl” 125 High School 127 Kansas City 131 Key Lessons 137 Photos 138 Notes 147 References 148 Part II: Sunshine 149 Chapter Seven: A New Beginning 151 Jarvis Christian College 151 Butler University 155 Jamaica 156 University of Indiana 159 Los Angeles 161 Detroit 164 Key Lessons 168 Photos 170 Notes 172 References 174 Chapter Eight: Pittsburgh and the PhD 177 Marriage 177 Children 182 The Doctoral Program 184 Community Engagement 186 Assassination and Activism 187 Key Lessons 190 Photos 191 Notes 192 References 193 Chapter Nine: Normal University Racism 195 Normal, Illinois 195 Ted’s Faculty Journey 196 Mildred’s Faculty Journey 199 Motherhood 205 Key Lessons 210 Notes 211 References 212 Chapter Ten: Black History Project 213 The Vision 214 Empowerment 217 The Stories 221 The Impact 226 Key Lessons 228 Notes 229 References 230 Part III: Sunset 233 Chapter Eleven: A Legacy 235 “We Shall Overcome” 236 Retirement 243 Recognition 244 Key Lessons 250 Notes 250 References 251 Chapter Twelve: Travel, Trials, and Triumph 253 The White House 255 Trials 259 Memories and Memorial 263 Music Lessons 266 Amazing Grace 269 The Concert 270 Photos 273 Notes 275 References 276 Appendix A: Theodore Pratt’s Curriculum Vitae 277 Appendix B: Mildred Pratt’s Curriculum Vitae 281 Index 291 A Black Woman's Journey follows Mildred Sirls as a young Black girl in rural east Texas in the 1930s who picked cotton to help her family survive, to her adulthood years as Dr. Mildred Pratt who influenced hundreds of students and empowered a community.