Dorothy Pitman Hughes facts for kids

Dorothy Pitman Hughes (born Dorothy Jean Ridley; October 2, 1938 – December 1, 2022) was an American activist and leader. She worked to help children and families. Dorothy was also a public speaker, author, and business owner. She helped start the Women's Action Alliance. Her work and friendship with Gloria Steinem brought different groups together in the early feminist movement.

Early Life and Activism

Dorothy Jean Ridley was born in Lumpkin, Georgia, on October 2, 1938. Her parents were Lessie W. Ridley and Melton Lee Ridley. When Dorothy was ten, something very sad happened to her father. This event made her decide to spend her life helping people. She wanted to make things better for everyone through activism.

Moving to New York

In 1957, when she was nineteen, Dorothy moved to New York City. She and her siblings sang together in a group called "Roger and the Ridley Sisters." During the 1960s, she worked many jobs. She was a salesperson, a house cleaner, and a nightclub singer. Dorothy started her activism by helping to raise money. This money was used to free civil rights protesters from jail.

Dorothy married Bill Pitman and had a child. Later, they divorced. She then married Clarence Hughes.

Starting Childcare Centers

By 1970, Dorothy had three daughters. She needed good care for her own children. So, she started a childcare center on the West Side of New York. This center was for children of all races. It was called the West 80th Community Childcare Center. A writer named Gloria Steinem wrote about it in New York magazine.

Dorothy and Gloria became good friends. Dorothy was good at speaking in front of people. She encouraged Gloria to start speaking publicly about the Women's Movement. For two years, they traveled across the country together. They shared their ideas on stage.

Dorothy also encouraged Gloria to create a magazine run by women. This led to Ms. Magazine. It started as a special edition of New York magazine. Even though she helped inspire it, Dorothy did not have an official job at the magazine.

Working for Change

Dorothy Pitman Hughes helped create the first safe place for women and children in New York City. She also helped start the New York City Agency for Child Development. She believed that "too many women were being forced to leave their children home alone while they worked to feed their families."

In 1971, Dorothy and Gloria Steinem started the Women's Action Alliance. This was an important national center. It focused on teaching children in ways that were fair to all genders and races. Throughout the 1970s, the two women traveled together. They spoke about race, social class, and gender equality.

An Iconic Photo

There is a famous black and white photo of Dorothy Pitman Hughes and Gloria Steinem. It is now in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C.. A photographer named Dan Wynn took the picture in 1971 for Esquire Magazine.

In the photo, Dorothy and Gloria raise their fists. This pose showed their support for women's rights. It was a sign first used by the Black Power movement. Dorothy said their friendship was special. She even felt scared to be seen with a white woman in her hometown of Lumpkin, Georgia. In 2017, a new photo was taken. It showed Dorothy and Gloria in a similar pose for Gloria's 80th birthday.

Later Work and Community Impact

Dorothy Pitman Hughes taught at several colleges. She was a guest lecturer at Columbia University. She also taught a course called "The Dynamics of Change" at the College of New Rochelle. She lectured at City College, Manhattan.

In 1992, Dorothy helped start the Charles Junction Historic Preservation Society in Jacksonville, Florida. They used an old family home to fight poverty. They did this by creating community gardens and growing food.

Harlem Office Supply

In 1997, Dorothy Pitman Hughes made history. She became the first African-American woman to own an office supply and copy center. It was called Harlem Office Supply, Inc. She also became a member of the Stationers Association of New York (SANY).

Dorothy wanted to help other African Americans. She started selling shares of her company for $1.00 each. She wrote a book about her experiences called Wake Up and Smell the Dollars! (2000). In it, she encouraged other African Americans to start their own small businesses. She believed this would help them gain power and independence.

Dorothy was involved in a program called the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ). This program aimed to help Harlem's economy. But Dorothy later became a critic. A large store, Staples, opened nearby. This made her business close. She felt that these programs brought big companies to Harlem. While they created some jobs, they also made it harder for local businesses to succeed.

Dorothy believed that "without African-American ownership, there is ultimately no local empowerment." She felt resources were not shared fairly with small businesses. She later wrote another book, Just Saying... It Looks Like Ethnic Cleansing (The Gentrification of Harlem). This book gave advice to African American business owners. It helped them understand government programs like the JOBS Act.

Continued Partnership

Dorothy Pitman Hughes and Gloria Steinem spoke together again in 2008. This was at Eckerd College. They even did their famous raised fist pose again. Gloria also supported Dorothy's efforts in Jacksonville, Florida. They worked together to fight hunger with community gardens.

Personal Life

Dorothy Pitman Hughes was married twice. Her first marriage to Bill Pitman ended in divorce. She later married Clarence Hughes, who passed away before her. She had three daughters. She was also the aunt of actress Gabourey Sidibe.

Dorothy Pitman Hughes passed away on December 1, 2022. She was 84 years old.

Honors

Oprah Winfrey honored Dorothy Pitman Hughes. She called her one of America's "Great Moms."

In Popular Culture

Actress Janelle Monaé played Dorothy Pitman Hughes in the 2020 movie The Glorias.

See also

In Spanish: Dorothy Pitman Hughes para niños