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February is Black History Month. Some of the Suite101.com Editors have put together a special section on Suite101 to showcase informative articles about Black History. Don't miss out your chance to check out Black History Month (1999) at Suite101.
If you can't hold children in your arms, please hold them in your heart. - Mother Clara Hale Many of us were taught in school about a few great black women in history who helped in the equal rights movement. It is hard to speak about the 60's civil rights battle in the US without mentioning Rosa Parks - the woman who's simple choice to sit in the front of the bus, launched a new awareness and activism against racial segrogation. However, there is more to the history of black women than just the key figures who are always found in the history books. One perfect example of an ordinary woman who did something extraordinary was Clara Hale. This was a woman who spent her life devoted to giving children a loving home so that they could grow up to be productive members of society. in 1940, she became a foster mother for the first time. For the next 25 years to follow, she took care of over 40 children. Giving them each hope, love and encouragment so that they could make it. To these children, she was known as "Mommy" Hale. Her love and compasion knew no boundaries because of race or ethnic background. In the beginning of her life as a foster mother, she was simply needed to give children a home. As time went by and the ills of society changed, so did Mother Hale. During a time where problems with drug abuse was exploding in Harlem, she took 22 babies of heroin-addicted women into her own apartment. After that, she helped established the first home for infants of drug addicted mothers. At the time, what Mother Hale was doing was revolutionary. Today, it is becoming all too common to see homes for crack babies or babies born with AIDS. It was Mother Hale who started this whole movement - whether or not she realized it at the time. Mother Hale did even more for the history books - again, probably not even thinking about the history books, instead she just cared for the children. In 1975 he house became the "Center for the Promotion of Human Potential," a licensed voluntary childcare agency. This Center was the only black voluntary agency in the US at the time. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Clara Hale: One of The Vocal Minorities in Women's Issues is owned by Nancy Coulter. Permission to republish Clara Hale: One of The Vocal Minorities in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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