Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt goes down in history as one of the world’s classiest ladies, but she was also a thoughtful and compassionate humanitarian. She was impressive for being remarkable outspoken in a time when women supporting their husbands were meant to be demure and radiate perfection, and she both campaigned on her husband’s behalf and openly admitted when she disagreed with his policies. She displayed that same outspoken attitude while supporting her causes of women’s rights, racial equality, and human rights. Eleanor worked for the Women’s Trade Union, campaigned for fair hours for workers, and opposed child labor. She was supportive and attentive to those suffering during the Great Depression, often attending meetings and visiting with those who needed a concerned listener. She was also active during the war effort, standing up for the rights of immigrants and refugees, though she admitted later she wished she had tried harder to help them. She is remembered for her support of singer Marion Anderson and her friendship with Mary McLeod Bethune, as well as her attempts to outlaw lynching. During WWII, she encouraged greater involvement for African American soldiers, notably openly praising the Tuskegee Airmen. For women, Eleanor encouraged female journalists by forbidden male journalists to attend her press conferences and by establishing an annual dinner for the female journalists who were excluded from the men-only event. She was quite a writer and journalist herself, often writing a regular column for a newspaper. Eleanor became a delegate to the United Nations after her husband’s death and the first chairperson of the United Nations Committee on Human Rights, helping to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She was also instrumental in the creation of the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women. Eleanor Roosevelt’s life positively brimmed with her passion for the rights and well-being of all people, regardless of gender, race, or place in life, and her long career championing her many causes does credit to the kind heart and optimistic spirit she surely must have had to care so much about so many people.

Today, be inspired to…If you aren’t already inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt, I don’t know what to tell you, ’cause you surely should be.

Photo credit: bjf.org