Aileen Hernandez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aileen Hernandez
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Aileen Blanche Clarke
May 23, 1926 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Died | February 13, 2017 (aged 90) Tustin, California, U.S.
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| Education | Howard University (BA) New York University California State University, Los Angeles (MA) |
| Occupation | Woman's rights activist union organizer president of the National Organization for Women (1970–1971) |
Aileen Hernandez (born Clarke; May 23, 1926 – February 13, 2017) was an important African-American leader. She worked to make things fair for everyone. She was a union organizer and a champion for civil rights and women's rights.
Aileen Hernandez was the second president of the National Organization for Women (NOW). This was from 1970 to 1971. She was also the first woman to serve on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This group helps stop unfair treatment in jobs.
She went to Howard University. There, she learned a lot about fighting for civil rights. After college, she helped start NOW. As president, she helped organize the Women's Strike for Equality. She also spoke to lawmakers about the Equal Rights Amendment. She later left NOW because she felt it wasn't doing enough for racial fairness. Aileen Hernandez helped create other groups for African-American women. She also taught at universities. She passed away in 2017 when she was 90 years old.
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Early Life and Learning
Aileen Blanche Clarke was born on May 23, 1926. Her birthplace was Brooklyn, New York. Her parents were immigrants from Jamaica. Her father, Charles Henry Clarke Sr., worked with art supplies. Her mother, Ethel Louise Hall, was a seamstress.
Her family was the only African-American family on their street. They faced unfair treatment from their neighbors. This experience made her want to fight for justice. She went to Bay Ridge High School in Brooklyn. It was an all-girls school. She graduated with high honors in 1943.
College Days
After high school, Aileen went to Howard University. This university is in Washington, D.C.. At first, she wanted to become a teacher. But she saw a lot of unfair separation, called segregation, in Washington, D.C. This changed her mind.
She decided to study sociology and political science. She graduated in 1947 with great grades. She was part of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She also joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This group works for the rights of African Americans.
A Lesson in Fairness
Aileen had an important experience when she first arrived in Washington, D.C. She had just gotten off the train. She asked how to get to Howard University. She was told to take a "black" taxi. She thought this meant the color of the car.
But it was about race. She later explained that white taxi drivers would not take Black passengers to a traditionally African-American university like Howard. This moment showed her how unfair things were. It made her even more interested in civil rights.
After college, Aileen studied in Norway for a short time. Then she came back to the United States. She started graduate school at New York University. In 1951, she moved to California. She joined a program to train new labor leaders. This was with the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU).
Working for Change
Aileen Hernandez became a strong leader in the ILGWU. She was the Education and Public Relations Director for the union in the Pacific coast area. In 1960, she traveled to six countries in South America. She gave talks about the United States.
In 1961, she earned a master's degree. This was in government from the California State University at Los Angeles. Soon after, she left the union. She started working for a political campaign. When her candidate won, she got a job. She became the Deputy Chief of the California Division of Fair Employment Practices.
Fighting for Equal Jobs
Because of her great work, President Lyndon B. Johnson chose her for a special role. In 1964, she became the only woman on the new Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This commission works to stop unfair treatment in jobs.
But she left after only 18 months. She was frustrated because the commission was too slow. It wasn't quickly solving cases about unfair treatment based on gender.
Leading the Way for Women
Aileen Hernandez helped start the National Organization for Women (NOW). She became its second national president. This was from 1970 to 1971. During her time as president, NOW organized the Women's Strike for Equality. This was a big protest for women's rights.
She wanted to change NOW's image. She felt it seemed "elitist and middle-class." She said she cared more about everyday women. She wanted to help women who had to balance family and work. In 1970, she spoke to lawmakers about the Equal Rights Amendment. This amendment would make sure women have the same rights as men.
After being president, she helped create NOW's Minority Women's Task Force. But she became upset. She felt NOW was not doing enough to fix racial unfairness. She left NOW in 1979. This was after white candidates were chosen for all leadership roles for the second year in a row.
Other Important Work
Before leading NOW, Aileen Hernandez co-founded Black Women Organized for Political Action in 1969. In 1984, she and Clara Stanton Jones started a discussion group. It was for Black women in the San Francisco Bay Area. They called it Black Women Stirring the Waters.
Aileen Hernandez also helped start other groups. These included the National Women's Political Caucus. She also started a publishing company with nine other African-American women. She served on the boards of many important groups. These included the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the NAACP. She also taught at universities in California. She even started her own consulting company.
Personal Life
In 1957, Aileen Hernandez married Alfonso Hernandez. He worked with clothes. They divorced in 1961.
Death
Aileen Hernandez passed away on February 13, 2017. She was 90 years old. She died from problems related to dementia. Many people remembered her important work. Dorothy Ehrlich of the ACLU said Aileen's life showed progress for women and people of color. Terry O'Neill, president of NOW, said Aileen's belief in fairness for all people was a lasting gift.
Honors
- In 1989, the ACLU in Northern California gave Aileen Hernandez an award. It was for her "decades of work for equality and justice."
- In 2005, Aileen Hernandez was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. She was one of 1,000 women from 150 nations. They were honored for their work in social justice and civil rights.
See Also
- List of civil rights leaders
- Timeline of women's suffrage in the United States
