Betty Reid-Soskin
Betty Reid Soskin (born 1921) is a prominent African-American woman of California, who at age 89 serves as the country's oldest National Park Ranger in her position at Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond. [1][2]
Biography
She was born in Detroit and raised in New Orleans until a hurricane and flood destroyed her family's home and business in 1927 and they relocated to Oakland. During World War II she worked as a clerk for Boilermakers A-36, a Jim Crow all-black union auxiliary. She does not consider herself a '"Rosie,"' one of the female World War II shipyard workers, who were mostly white. In June 1945 she and her husband, Mel Reid, founded Reid's Records in South Berkeley, a small, still-standing black business. They moved to Walnut Creek in the 1950s, where their children attended better public schools but the family encountered considerable racism. She became active in the local Unitarian Universalist congregation and the Black Caucus of the Unitarian Universalist Association. During the 1960s she wrote and performed songs, many dealing with civil rights and peace.
In 1972 she divorced Mel Reid and married William Soskin, a psychology professor at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1978 Mel Reid's health and finances had declined and she took over management of the music store, which led to becoming a prominent community activist. She served as field representative for State Assemblywomen Dion Aroner and Loni Hancock, and through that position became involved in the development of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park. She is currently employed as a park ranger for the National Park Ranger working as tour guide and interpreter.
Honors
- California Woman of the Year, California Legislature, 1995.
- Builders of Communities and Dreams, National Women’s History Project, 2006.
- Attended President Obama's Inauguration as a guest of Rep. George Miller.
- Proclamation by Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin on behalf of Richmond City Council, 2009.[3]
Notes
- ^ WWII meant opportunity for many women, oppression for others, by Caroline Zynco, San Francisco Chronicle, September 26, 2007, retrieved March 23, 2011
- ^ [1] Ranger's voice spans East Bay history], by Lee Hildebrand, San Francisco Chronicle, January 31, 2010, retrieved March 23, 2011
- ^ [2]
References
- Received honorary doctorate at California College of the Arts at Spring Commencement of 2010.
- Reveived the WAVE award as one of 3 "Women of Achievement" by Girl Source of San Francisco 2010.
- ^ WWII meant opportunity for many women, oppression for others, by Caroline Zynco, San Francisco Chronicle, September 26, 2007, retrieved March 23, 2011
- ^ [1] Ranger's voice spans East Bay history], by Lee Hildebrand, San Francisco Chronicle, January 31, 2010, retrieved March 23, 2011
- ^ [2]
- Cited in "Wherever there's a fight - the history of the ACLU in California" - Elaine Elinson & Stan Yogi, 2007
- Featured in the final chapter 0f Bruce Frankel's "What Shall I do with the rest of my life," a study of 13 American elders who made major contributions later in life - 2009
External links
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History of Richmond, California
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Soskin, Betty Reid |
| Alternative names |
Reid Soskin, Betty |
| Short description |
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| Date of birth |
1921 |
| Place of birth |
Detroit |
| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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