Grace Lee Boggs
Boggs Center
Detroit, MI USA
"In order to change society, we have to transform ourselves."
Career Roadmap
Grace's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Politics, and Upholding a Cause and Belief
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Philosophy
Barnard College
Doctorate
Philosophy
Bryn Mawr College
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Studied European philosophy; got her Ph.D. in 1940, the year France fell to the Nazis: "all of a sudden, there was Europe in chaos."
2.
Knew after school, she was going to have a tough time finding a job as an Asian-American woman, even with her Ph.D.
3.
Didn't grow up politically minded, didn't consider herself a radical, but she always knew "there were things that needed to change."
4.
First inspired after the March on Washington Movement successfully forced passage of Executive Order 8802, ending discrimination in defense industry.
5.
After seeing "what a movement could do," knew she wanted to become an activist in the black movement.
6.
Moved to Detroit, once the epicenter of industrialization, to try to find solutions in the aftermath of the "exodus of the corporations."
7.
Mayor wanted to replace auto industry with casino industry, but she successfully fought against it, recognized that economy as "exploitative."
8.
Says that while "successful" is not a word she'd use to describe her life, it has been meaningful-"and isn't that what we all want?"
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
In those days people would come right out and say 'we don't hire orientals.'