A Black Woman’s Journey from Cotton Picking to College Professor: Lessons about Race, Class, and Gender in the United States with Author Dr. Menah Pratt Clarke

A Black Woman’s Journey from Cotton Picking to College Professor: Lessons about Race, Class, and Gender in America by Dr. Menah Pratt traces the journey and transformation of Mildred Sirls, a young Black girl in rural east Texas in the 1930s who picked cotton to help her family survive, to Dr. Mildred Pratt, Professor Emerita of Social Work, who, by lifting as she climbed, influenced hundreds of students and empowered a community. Her journey is about the importance of speaking up and helping others to speak up and share their stories to leave a legacy of impact.