The door might not be opened to a woman again for a long, long time, and I had a kind of duty to other women to walk in and sit down on the chair that was offered, and so establish the right of others long hence and far distant in geography to sit in the high seats.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of seizing opportunities for the benefit of future generations, particularly for women in positions of power.
Frances Perkins reflects on the significance of her presence and participation in a space traditionally dominated by men. She feels a sense of responsibility not only to herself but also to other women, understanding that by taking a seat at the table, she paves the way for others to do the same in the future. This act of breaking barriers is not merely for personal gain but for the collective advancement of women in society.
In practice
In a discussion about women's rights, one might quote Frances Perkins to highlight the necessity of female representation.
Out of our first century of national life we evolved the ethical principle that it was not right or just that an honest and industrious man should live and die in misery. He was entitled to some degree of sympathy and security. Our conscience declared against the honest workman's becoming a pauper, but our eyes told us that he very often did.
Our idea of what constitutes social good has advanced with the procession of the ages, from those desperate times when just to keep body and soul together was an achievement, to the great present when "good" includes an agreeable, stable civilization accessible to all, the opportunity of each to develop his particular genius and the privilege of mutual usefulness.
The people are what matter to government, and a government should aim to give all the people under its jurisdiction the best possible life.
My goal was never to just create a company. A lot of people misinterpret that, as if I don't care about revenue or profit or any of those things. But what not being just a company means to me is not being just that - building something that actually makes a really big change in the world.
This is how a revolution begins. It begins when someone grows tired of standing idly by, waiting for history's arc to bend toward justice, and instead decides to give it a swift shove. It begins when a black seamstress named Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in the segregated South.
True transformation only comes from sustainable strategies.
Aging is not "lost youth" but a new stage of opportunity and strength.
We've had a great change. Dr King saw to that. I was so grateful to see the 'colored only' signs come off the water fountains and bathrooms in the south. But the struggle lives on.
Many of us believed that Black Lives Matter would move this country to not only reckon with white racism but to usher in new laws and practices that would curb vigilantism and law enforcement violence. But, instead, white nationalism was nurtured and began to take root among the American people.
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