Independent Women's Forum - Princella Smith

Holding Her Head High

info@iwf.org (Princella Smith) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:59:00 EST

A fabulous new book by Janine Turner (of Northern Exposure, Strong Medicine, and Cliffhanger fame) tackles an issue close to many women: single motherhood. Turner, herself a single mother, bases her book, Holding Her Head High: 12 Single Mothers Who Championed Their Children and Changed History, on the stories of 12 extraordinary women in history who were single mothers at a time when it wasn't so common to see a woman raising a child by herself. There were not support groups or government aid to help these women along the way. Turner's extensive historical research reveals the struggles of women whose stories are buried in history textbooks.

Many single women will see elements of their own experience when they read about the lives of Queen Blanche of Castile, Christine de Pazan, Abigail Adams, Belva Ann Lockwood, Harriet Jacobs, and others. Turner draws lessons from each woman's life, and intersperses their stories with personal observations from her own life as a single mother.

Before reading Holding Her Head High, I had limited understanding about the extent of influence that Queen Blanche had on her son, the renowned St. Louis IX and how both her warlike preparations and skilled diplomacy awed the nobles of her kingdom. I was unaware of Christine de Pizan's bold criticism of misogynist male writers of the 14^th and 15^th centuries and the bravery of her revolutionary writing. I knew little more about Abigail Adams than that she was the wife of the second President of the United States; I didn't appreciate her full impact as her husband's counselor. Coined "Mrs. President" by many, she managed a household with five children and managed to raise a future president in second oldest son, John Quincy Adams. Turner also highlights Belva Ann Lockwood, who was one of the first female lawyers in the United States. Lockwood lobbied Congress for an anti-discrimination bill after being banned from practice in the U.S. Supreme Court. Of personal interest to me as an African-American was the story of Harriet Jacobs. She was born a slave and escaped the sexual brutality of her slave master to become a free woman and impressive author who wrote in vivid details of her longing to free the slave children she left behind.

Whether a woman is forced into single motherhood through the situation of a spouse's death, a spouse's overwhelming job, or the spouse's decision to choose another partner, this book underscores situations every single mother can relate to and through which every person can become inspired. Janine Turner deserves praise for the work, research, and the heart that she displayed while encouraging women of all backgrounds to hold their heads high.

Princella Smith is a Visiting Fellow for the Independent Women's Forum.

Independent Women's Voice: FOX's Your World with Neil Cavuto

info@iwf.org (Princella Smith) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:10:00 EST

What will it take to bring out the Conservative base to the polls in November? IWV Visiting Fellow Princella Smith discusses this question and more on today's Your World with Neil Cavuto.

FOX's Studio B: Iowa Caucus

info@iwf.org (Princella Smith) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 11:42:00 EST

With the Iowa Caucus only three days away, word has it that Edwards is finishing strong and that it is now down to Mitt vs. Huck.

IWF's visiting fellow, Princella Smith is on the ground in Des Moines and will give us a run down on what's happening in Iowa by joining Studio B with Shepard Smith.

MSNBC Live: 2008 Presidential Candidates

info@iwf.org (Princella Smith) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:51:00 EST

IWF Visiting Fellow Princella Smith joins MSNBC Live to discuss Romney's Meet the Press appearance, the Hillary and Obama fued and how it affects Hillary's campaign.

The YouTube Generation

info@iwf.org (Princella Smith) — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

With issues like Social Security, healthcare, and the War on Terror in play, young Americans stand to gain, or lose the most from the 2008 presidential election.

1972 marked the first Presidential election in which 18 year olds could vote, and in that election cycle, 55 percent cast ballots. 2008 is shaping up in similar fashion, as politicians embrace technology previously known only to youth.

For the past 2 years, the YouTube craze has become a phenomenon beyond its original function as an entertainment outlet. With CNN hosting the first ever YouTube debate, the instant-upload video site is now a forum for political speeches and ads, and online polling.

There is no longer such a thing as a one-time political comment. Former U.S. Senator and one-time GOP presidential frontrunner George Allen learned this lesson in 2006 when a young DNC staffer caught his "maccaca" remarks on camera. The YouTube community guaranteed the public would not miss their chance to view it, over and over again.

Harris Interactive recently conducted the Harvard Institute of Politics' 12th Biannual Youth Survey on Politics and Public Service online among U.S. citizens aged 18 to 24 years old, both enrolled and not enrolled in 4-year colleges and universities. The survey confirms the increase in youth engagement in politics.

"In the seven years we have been conducting this national poll, we have seen a marked difference in political engagement and attitudes of young people," said IOP Polling Director John Della Volpe. "From the thirty-one percent increase in youth voter turnout from 2000 to 2004 to the 2006 upset victories of Senators Tester and Webb, younger voters are making a difference."

The online poll finds that more than three in ten likely 18 to 24 year-old Republican voters said their first choice for President in 2008 would be Rudy Giuliani (31%), followed by John McCain (18%) and Mitt Romney (8%).

More than one-third of likely 18 to 24 year-old Democratic voters say Barack Obama would be their first choice for President in 2008, followed by Hillary Clinton (29%) and John Edwards (9%).

Not only have this year's frontrunners been influenced by the energy of young people, but the issues important to young America have dominated 2008 presidential debates. According to Harvard's survey, fifty percent of young people say the Iraq War and domestic security are overwhelmingly their number one concerns today. Almost one-in-five young people say the Darfur genocide should be the next foreign policy priority for President Bush.

It is a mistake, therefore, to say that young adults don't care about politics. Some will look to past voter turnout numbers and conclude that apathy persists in youth. But in 2008 young people will once again have an opportunity to make an impact by actively engaging in the political process.

Young Americans must ask candidates in both parties to address them directly. 18 to 24 year olds must strive to make our voices heard. Write op-eds. Attend candidate forums. Ask questions, and most of all, vote.

Mahatma Ghandi once said: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." I say, believe that you can make a difference, and you will. Your vote is your voice. Let it be heard.

Princella D. Smith is a visiting fellow at the Independent Women's Forum.

Do we know that we are free?

info@iwf.org (Princella Smith) — Tue, 15 May 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Long before Don Imus called the Rutgers Women's basketball team "nappy-headed hoes" African-Americans have faced degradation. But it is the degradation that we place upon ourselves that is the most damaging.

African-American history is rich with slaves who taught themselves how to read, learned to till and navigate the land, achieved status as small business and landowners, and were even elected to office post-Reconstruction. They instilled in their children a sense of pride and hard work. All the while, they were viewed as having no more brains than an ox. No greater use than manual labor and reproducing. Still they soldiered on. Their literal blood, sweat, and tears stain the trail upon which African-Americans now tread. But it's as if many in my generation don't even know it.

We have created a hip-hop culture where violence and misogyny have become popular pastimes. Moments after watching America's black female Secretary of State on C-SPAN, the viewer clicks the channels to see young black women in a disgusting sexual display on BET. The black male has always presented a sense of respect to their "mamas," but now displays hatred for the "baby-mamas". This problem goes beyond simple disrespect. Black women have now become the enemy. While I enjoy some hip-hop and would never advocate for censorship, I refuse to play or purchase songs that portray my sisters as "bitches and whores."

The late rapper, Tupac Shakur wrote, "since we all came from a woman, got our name from a woman, and our game from a woman. I wonder why we take from women, why we rape our women, do we hate our women? I think its time we killed for our women, be real to our women, try to heal our women, 'cus if we don't we'll have a race of babies that will hate the ladies, who make the babies. And since a man can't make one he has no right to tell a women when and where to create one." Yet his songs, "I Get Around" and "How Do You Want It" provide lyrics about women too explicit to include in this article.

People like Don Imus feel that they have the license to label us because this is the portion of our society that they choose to see. Few know of the growing number of black women as CEO's of major corporations, doctors, lawyers and educators and that the fastest growing population of small business owners is African-American women.

Forty-three years ago, Congress passed the July 2, 1964 Civil Rights Act. We are not so removed from the days of segregation that we should forget the horrific agony and fatalities suffered by our ancestors. How would our ancestors think of us if they were alive now? Instead of the white man's oppression, it is the black man's, or, even worse, it is sometimes the black woman herself.

Barack Obama was one of many African-American leaders who called for Imus's firing. But Obama recently invited rapper Ludacris to his Chicago office to discuss the singer's new AIDS awareness campaign. What good is Ludacris's campaign when he boasts: "I've got hos in different area codes"? Why have some people attacked Imus so adamantly and then softened their tone towards those who have infiltrated our airwaves with filth? Are we too afraid of being typecast as traitors to our own race?

African-Americans can attack every bigot in the country, but until we cease from producing and promoting disgusting images and sounds, our culture will continue to deteriorate. Freed from the chains of slavery, we have now created our own set of invisible chains. Do we know that we are free?