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.
Menah Pratt, JD, PhD, is the Vice President of Strategic Affairs and Diversity, and a Professor of Education at Virginia Tech.
Dr. Pratt's scholarship is situated within the intersection of multiple fields of study. She is formally trained in literary studies, philosophy, law, African American Studies, Feminist/Women’s Studies, Black Feminism/Womanism, education, and sociology. She has extensively explored the intersection of religion, spirituality, and humanity. Her work focuses on understanding issues of identity and how race and gender influence life journeys and experiences. As a scholar-activist, she is interested in praxis, and translating academic work, theory, and research, into practical applications to transform society. As a diversity practitioner and senior leader in higher education, her leadership and philosophical approach is centered around academic advocacy to ensure that the educational space is one of empowerment and a place for individuals to actualize their potential. She is particularly sensitive to individuals who have been historically marginalized in society because of their identities that have been minimized and marginalized. For more information about Dr. Pratt, please visit menahpratt.com.
This program will be held in the Museum's second-floor Courtroom and live streamed on the Museum's YouTube Channel.