Respect the Architects: Jane Bolin 1908 - 2007

Jane Bolin: April 11th, 1908 - January 13th, 2007

Being Black and female is still not a much sought-after census denomination in America. Let alone in the early 1900's. Yes, life can be hard now. But one thing's for certain, all of our lives are easier now, all due to the work put in by our architects.

Jane Bolin was one of them. She was evidence that the experiment that is America CAN work. She is also a testament to the gaps that still exist in the experiment that is America. Why wasn't she mentioned in my high school American history classes? Why is her name unfamiliar to most Americans?

Jane Bolin was Yale's first black woman law school graduate and New York's first black woman judge. Although, if you asked her, she had a lot more important things to worry about: "Everyone else makes a fuss about it, but I didn't think about it, and I still don't," she said. "I wasn't concerned about first, second or last. My work was my primary concern."

Respect the architects. They put in WORK laying the foundation that WE walk on. The architects are now asking something of US: What are YOU GONNA BUILD on top of the foundation?

The Rance Allen Group - Ain't No Need of Crying
Curtis Mayfield - To Be Invisible
Weldon Irvine - What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?