Living Well Etc.

  First African American Pilot “The sky is the only place there is no prejudice. Up there, everyone is equal, everyone is free.” Elizabeth Coleman Born to African American and Native American sharecropper parents in 1892 Texas, Elizabeth, Bessie, fought for her chance to become an aviator. ( video ) In her twenties, she became interested in flying thanks to WW1 returning soldiers' heroic stories.    In a deeply segregated U.S., she could find no pilot to train her, even those who were black.   Her brother, newly returned from war, entertained her with stories of the many opportunities for women in France, one of which was pilot training.   As this seemed to be her only hope, she set her sights on France. Bessie began her journey by learning French.   Along with her savings and financial backing from the African-American community, she left for France in 1920.   By 1921, she accomplished her goal and became the first American woman who earned a...

A California Woman Who Fought for the Land and the Mechoopda Drive through Northern California and you will find a Bidwell street, park, or building in most cities.   Still, I doubt many actually know why the street bears the name.     In truth, the namesakes most probably honor John Bidwell , a California pioneer, politician, farmer, and philanthropist. Nevertheless, his wife, Annie, contributed quite a bit to our golden state of California as well.   Annie Bidwell’s Early Years Annie’s early years shaped her belief system and future.   She was born into an upper-middle-class family and raised in Washington D.C.   In her early teen years, she became a devout Presbyterian, leading her to devote her life to social issues, like conservation, women’s suffrage, and prohibition.   In fact, her many friends included Susan B. Anthony, Frances Willard, and John Muir.   Annie Marries and Begins Work on Her Passions While John was in Washington D...

Poet, Writer, and Tireless Fighter for Native Americans “...greatest American woman poet." Ralph Waldo Emerson Best known as the writer of the 1884 novel, Ramona , Helen Hunt Jackson was also an outspoken human rights activist, focusing on Native American issues.   She fought using the written word beginning with the 1881 novel Century of Dishonor , in which she unveiled the wrongdoings of our government toward Native Americans.  It is still in print.   To every member of Congress, she gave a copy inscribed with, "Look upon your hands: they are stained with the blood of your relations."  Due to her plucky personality and intellect, Helen also collected many accomplished literary friends throughout her life beginning with Emily Dickenson in childhood and later with Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Oliver Wendell Holmes. The Why Behind Her Drive Helen experienced multiple tragedies in her life, including losing her mother at an early age, and later her husb...

  Grace Carpenter Hudson (1865-1937) Here in the United States, we celebrate the accomplishments of women every March.  Most often, these women are well known, like Eleanor Roosevelt and Harriet Tubman.   No doubt, these two women were remarkable, and their accomplishments are indelibly ingrained in our historic memory bank.   Nevertheless, countless women have contributed noteworthy accomplishments as well.   What follows is the story of just one of those women. Grace’s Early History Near the end of the 1800s, when women had very few choices, especially when it came to careers, California native, Grace Carpenter Hudson became a well-known, extraordinarily successful painter.   This might not be of much interest to most unless you consider some of her subjects.   More on that later.   For now, let’s learn more about Grace. Born to the first white schoolteacher for the Pomo Native American tribe and an accomplished artist, Gra...

Entrepreneur, Freer of Slaves,   and Voodoo Queen of San Francisco Much of this amazing woman's history has been blemished due to an organized smear campaign in the late 1800s. Some say she practiced voodoo, stole babies, and killed those who were in her way.  None of these accusations can be confirmed.  After many years of digging, researchers found that the following facts could not be erased so easily.  Vital to the Underground Railroad Whether or not Mary Ellen Pleasant was born a slave – whose father was a plantation owner – or if she was born free, doesn't really matter.  Historical records do confirm, however, that she was vital to the Underground Railroad.  She also became a successful businessperson in a time when women didn't have many rights if any.  Early in her life, Mary Ellen married James W. Smith, an abolitionist who introduced her to saving slaves by smuggling them to Canada.  She and her husband...

How a Woman Helped End the War in California As the mother of a son born during the Vietnam War, I can understand a mother's apprehension about her son one day entering the war arena.  For me, I was terrified.  Boys I had grown up with were killed or maimed in war.  I would have done anything to keep him safe, as would most mothers.   However, Bernarda Ruiz trumped anything I could even imagine, especially since she accomplished what many men could not and she was a woman in the mid-1800s.  A Trip Back in Time During this time period, the US and Mexico were at  war  over the land each felt ownership. Los Angeles was considered significantly important due to its position on the southern end of the west coast .  Of course, the military came in and established control over the area and other strategic locations as well.  Problems arose when they became a bit too heavy-handed with the locals.    Californios, Mexicans livi...