Heirloom and Legacy
On this last Black History Month episode, I interviewed Diallo Brooks, Senior Equity Fellow at the Schott Foundation and great-great-grandson of Maggie L. Walker. Diallo and I discussed the creative spirit and fortitude of his great-great-grandmother, and how she succeeded despite Jim Crow and in the former Capitol of the Confederacy. Maggie Walker was born in 1864 in Virginia to a formerly enslaved mother. In 1893, she became a teacher, was married a few years later, and as a sign of the times, she had to give up her teaching job. That did not dissuade her advocacy, however. She became involved with the Order of St. Luke, an organization dedicated to African Americans' social and financial advancement. Through her leadership, St Luke established the St. Luke Herald newspaper, opened a clothing store to employ Black women, and ventured into the insurance industry. She then opened the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank, making her the first African American woman to head up a bank in the United States. Her home in Jackson Ward is now a museum run by the Park Service; there is a statue of her on Broad Street in downtown Richmond and a college preparatory high school that bears the name Maggie L. Walker Governor's School. In researching Mrs. Walker, I found her advocacy for Black people inspiring. Unfortunately, her story was not in any history books I have ever read, but I am fortunate and honored that Diallo Brooks, Maggie Walker’s great, great grandson, Diallo Brooks, joined me on the podcast today. We also discussed Diallo's uncle/cousin Spottswood Robinson III, a civil rights attorney in the Brown v Board of Education case. Diallo posted the following on his LinkedIn page: “This Black History Month, I invite you to celebrate the remarkable achievements of my uncle/cousin, Spottswood Robinson III. Robinson III was a pioneering civil rights attorney who played a crucial role in the historic Brown v. Board of Education case, challenging segregation in public schools and advancing equality. As a key member of the legal team, Robinson helped pave the way for the desegregation of schools in the United States, leaving a lasting impact on civil rights history. Robinson III also made history as the first African American to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, later becoming Chief Justice. His appointment broke barriers and inspired future generations of African American judges. Let's honor his legacy.” Diallo Brooks [https://schottfoundation.org/person/diallo-brooks/] More on Maggie L. Walker Carry On: The Life and Legacy of Maggie Lena Walker [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR3CexPZXEk&t=357s] Maggie Walker: Our History is Her Story [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScQdz_05k3A]
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