Day 31 - Bernice Gooding Simmons

Today is our last day of intentionally bringing Black women to the front that impacted our lives and the lives of others. It is our hope that during these days, you were reminded of the extraordinary work of the Black women in your life. More than anything, we want you to recognize all of the Black women who didn’t make it in history books but made it in your own personal her-STORY learning. 

We’re ending our 31 Days of Revolutionary Black Women with where it all began – with my mother, Bernice Gooding Simmons. If anyone is a revolutionary, the noun form as well as the verb form, it’s my mother. Most believe my mother to be the quiet reserved one of the marriage while my father is believed the loud, rambunctious one. There is a certain truth to this; however, my mother’s quiet and reserved nature is packaged in one-liner statements that wield a memorable lesson.

My strongest memory of my mother is when I’d ask her if I could be a long list of occupations. Her response was, “Angie, you can be anything you want to be.” I’d ask my father the very same question. His response, “I don’t think that you can do all of those at the same time.” Confused, I’d return to my mother with the same question, adding two or three more occupations on it, but her response would be the same, “Angie, you can be anything you want to be.” All at the same time? I’d ask. 

“Angie, you can be anything you want to be.” She never put locks on our dreams or tainted them with reality.

As a little girl, I spent most of my time with my mother whether she was doing my hair, bathing me, dressing me, reading to me, coloring with me, leading me in my bedtime prayers, reaching her hand out for me when we crossed the street – a practice that continued well past what I thought appropriate, or listening to me begging for a little sister, I was learning from her through observation and instruction. Today, she’s always surprised when I serve as her reminder of her teachings. 

As a teacher, my mother never taught summer school so she could be home with her children during the summer. It was important to her that we learned a truthful education. Neither of my parents shrunk from teaching us worldly truths, but my mother had no problems re-teaching a mis-education that was repeated. Using gut-wrenching truths that I still remember, my mother never minced words - Lincoln didn’t free the slaves because he wanted to or loved them, North Carolina needs to quit lying; they weren’t the first in freedom, and don’t you let me ever hear you singing Dixie in this house again. Who taught you that? 

Simply stated, my mother is an encourager, truth-teller, protector, educator, and pusher. Just a few years ago, I was speaking with her about an issue. She politely let me finish and calmly stated, “Angie, what you need to understand is that when I pushed you and your brothers out, I kept on pushing.” 

You see, there is nothing, even now, that my mother believes her children cannot do. If you believe that my mother’s children are unable to achieve something, I think it best that you not tell her. (Although an even tempered sistah by nature, that would not be the side you saw when her children are concerned.)

So, when I started the Fannie Lou Hamer Institute of Advocacy & Social Action, my mother was right alongside me pushing me with encouragement. Traveling with the summer campers, serving on the Board, financially supporting, as well as providing any other assistance as needed.

Here’s hoping that you find the revolutionary women in your life! The ones in the history books and the ones in your life. When you find them, salute them and honor them. Thank you for joining us these 31 days.

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