I always thought Chelsea Clinton and I would be good friends. We had a lot in common: strong minded parents, crazy hair, and we are both what Frances Foster has termed public daughters. I didn't grow up with the whole world looking on, but rather in the midst of a world of academics, with a unique circle of interdisciplinary other-mothers, who some would call the power houses of the black academy. These women are historians, social scientists, writers, literature buffs, political scientist, and feminist scholars by trade, who have collectively published works or in general done the work that has revolutionized the fields of women studies, African and African American studies, History, English, and so much more. They are the Nellie McKays (editor of the Norton Anthology of African American literature....if you don't know her you should look her up she is AMAZING) of the world, who have defied convention and struggled not simply to make names for themselves in the academy, but to move the narrative of black women's stories from the margin to the center.
Growing up, I knew I was lucky. I knew not everyone got to watch their mother braid bell hook's hair, or to share a meal with Toni Morrison. But this weekend I was reminded not only of how incredibly valuable it has been to know these women personally, but how much the work they have done has had tangible impacts on "learned societies" across the board. I joined my mother at ASU for the conference she put together called: "Madame President: summit on women of color, leadership, and the learned societies."
The conference included: Patricia Hill Collins- American Sociological Association, Beverly Guy Sheftal- National Women's Studies Association, Darlene Clark Hine - Organization of American Historians and Southern Historical Association, Nell Irvin Painter- also from OAH and SHA, Diane Pinderhughes - American Political Science Association, Pearl Robinson- African Studies Association, Loriene Robinson - American Library Association, Vicki Ruiz - American Studies Association, and Frances Smith Foster.
The conference began with two panels in which the women talked about their careers and what they had accomplished in general and then more specifically during the tenure of their presidencies. They spoke about the process and path that brought them to leadership, some more intentionally and willingly than others. There were those women who systematically positioned themselves to be in power and others who refused to be president of the organization several times before finally choosing to take up the mantle, not necessarily because they wanted to, but because they were committed to having the job done right, even at their own personal expense.
After the panels, the ladies met with graduate students and professors from their respective disciplines. I accompanied Pearl Robinson to African and African American Studies with my mom (who chairs the department). Unfortunately most of the students had class, but Dr. Robinson was able to meet with the faculty and share about one of the projects she's been working on...a study trip on the topic of gold in Ghana. Dr. Robinson has taken students to Ghana twice to teach a short seminar on the topic of gold and its impact on the Ghanaian economy. I, of course, was fascinated by the logistics of the trip and how she was able to develop a viable business plan and ingeniously use the final project (a video made by participants about what they had learned) to help market and recruit future program participants. But more than this, the professors at AAAS were able to discuss what kinds of curriculum and program they would like to develop in the future. After a short break, we reconvened for dinner at the faculty club and a key note address from Frances Foster.
The next morning, at one of those lush hotels Phoenix is known for, we had brunch with the ASU Faculty Women's Association (of which my mom is the president). This was a much less formal conversation. After the whole thing was over, I sat in the sun and sipped peach bellinis with my mom, Frances, and Beverly. They are working on a project (more about this in future blogs) and took advantage of their downtime to meet, but afterwards we talked about the conference and what each of us had gotten out of it. Everyone seemed particularly interested in what I learned so here are my final thoughts:
What I learned isn't easily articulated or quantified. I was able to bear witness to the experiences of these amazing women. They gave advice and strategies for not only how to do what they did, but what they would have done to do it better. But they also talked about the tolls its take.
I have known this for a long time, but I am still kind of coming to terms with it: I don't want to be an academic. While I am in awe of and inspired by these wonderful, brilliant women who are revolutionizing the academy everyday, I don't have the calling, nor the patience and discipline that are pre-requisite to join the perpetual struggle to reform organizations that are often resistant and unappreciative. The cost is high. I've seen how the job has taken a toll on my mother and on all these women as well, and when measuring the price against their rich and diverse accomplishments and successes, I think it is easy to see that it was worth it....for them.
When I look at my own wants and hopes and dreams, I don't think it would be for me. What I realized also, is that by growing up as a "public daughter" I have inadvertently absorbed not only the high standards of the women around me, but also their framework for defining success. I understand now why it was so difficult for me to give up the crappy job that sucked my soul...it wasn't that I wanted to stay there, it's that from the outside looking in, that job was a respectable position in higher ed in which I was, at times, able to continue the work of promoting academic programs that gave voice to the experiences of people of color. It's good work, and work that I will probably always be involved in, but not that way. By learning more about the path of others, I am beginning to understand that I must find my own way. At least I am lucky enough to have some amazing people in my life helping to guide my journey.
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