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Amazing women to share their stories By Jason Schaefer Americans celebrate stories of the underdog and his rise to success, and we learn how to live our own lives from the lessons of hardship passed down from an older generation. For this very purpose, six African-American women — Leslie Hill, Dollie Reese, Alberta Garner, Otis M. Washington, Pinkie White and Denise Aldridge — all from Taylor, will join together this weekend to tell their own stories of crossing pitfalls and mastering their own lives. While their stories differ widely — one is a cancer survivor, another is confined to a wheelchair and one the mother of nine adopted children, to mention a few — the lives of these women all share a common thread, of having to constantly struggle through sexism and racism. “All of these women grew up in adversity,” event organizer Dee Dee Washington said. “Females generally have a hard life in this country, and being a black female is another stigma. Unless this country makes a big turnaround, we’re still going to have these problems.” At the presentation, which will be held Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at Zion Chapel Baptist Church, 612 E. Walnut St., listeners will learn “the strength of the black woman,” Washington said, as well as lessons they can apply to their own lives. “The idea just came to me,” Washington said. “I always listened to my mother’s (Otis M. Washington’s) stories, and I always try to sit myself at the feet of wisdom. I think these are women with those kinds of stories. “If there’s going to be a pitfall in my life, and one of these women know about it because they’ve already been down that road, it would behoove me to listen to what they have to say.” The message of the presentation will be that one can face adversity and still succeed — even do great things in life — even if beset by a “certain type of lifestyle,” Washington said. In addition to their stories, Sonia Moore, a singer from Austin, will perform at the event, and Dr. Audrey Sorrells will serve as the keynote speaker. The public is invited. “These are people that are amazing,” Washington said. “I think every woman has a story to tell, and these all have stories they need to tell.”
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