Mamie Currie Hughes and Today’s Civil Rights Struggle

I am a hero junkie. I look to meet heroes to learn about what they have done and what makes them tick. I am very blessed when they accept my invitation to become activist partners and soul-friends. This morning, I had coffee with my new friend Mamie Currie Hughes, an 83-year-old mother of five. Ms. Hughes shared with me that not so long ago she was not allowed to come into a coffee shop like this one unless she was brought in by a white man. The humility and modesty I saw in Mamie belie the unbending determination she has exhibited for decades as a bold community and civil rights activist.

Mamie has long been prominent for her political service. She represented the 4th district in the Jackson County Legislature for 6 years in the 1970s, and eventually chaired its Health and Welfare Committee. During this time, Ms. Hughes was chosen by her peers for the honored position of Vice-Chair of the Legislature, and a few years later she was appointed by President Carter to be Regional Director for ACTION, a Federal Volunteer Service Agency, where she oversaw more than 20,000 volunteers in four states. She was also ” target=”_blank”>Mamie Hughes is one of the only women in Kansas City who has a bridge named after her. During the 71 Highway road construction, her assistance with negotiations on behalf of the residents of the area inspired the city to come together to make the project successful. She calls it a “people bridge” and notes that it’s for all of us, signifying people tearing down walls.

Mamie has served on the administrative boards of an impressive list of organizations. Today she serves on boards of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, ” target=”_blank”>Missouri Compromise of 1820-1821 brought Missouri into the Union as a slave state. In addition, the ” target=”_blank”>Uri L'Tzedek, the Senior Rabbi at Kehilath Israel, and is the author of “” target=”_blank”>one of the top 50 rabbis in America!”