Insurgent Memories
Lowndes County Election
Fraud
1962-65 Youth leader for Montgomery Improvement Association and
SCLC.
1962-72 Organizer for SNCC
1968-72 Founder of National Association of Black Students.
Biography
Dr. Gwendolyn M. Patton was born in Detroit, Michigan, and was raised as a Christian in a small, loving community named Inkster, Michigan, a factory town for Ford Motor Company assembly-line workers.
At 16 years of age, after her mother passed, she came to Montgomery, Alabama where she had often spent her summer vacations, visiting her grandparents and other relatives. She immediately joined the Montgomery Improvemen Association, encouraged her grandparents to let their second house to freedom fighters working in SCLC and SNCC She graduated with high honors from George Washington Carver High School.
She earned her Bachelor's of Science Degree in English and History from Tuskegee University, where she also served as Student Body President. It was while she was a scholar activist at the University that Alabama state officials told her that she would never get a job In Alabama because of her freedom activities.
She left Alabama in 1966 and involved herself in activities dedicated to bring about equality and freedom for our people. She has traveled and organized in Atlanta, Chicago, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Nagadoches, El Paso, Santa Fe, New Orleans, Ocala, Orlando, Miami, Tallahassee, and throughout the states of California, New York, Nortt Carolina, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Vermont, Alabama, and Washington D.C. She has traveled to Europe, and extensively throughout Canada, South/Central America, Europe, and Africa.
She earned her Master's Degree from Antioch University, is a Ph.D. candidate with the Union Graduate School. She was conferred the Honorary Doctorate Degree of Letters from the Inter- denominational Institute of Theology. He professional experiences include serving as the Educational Administrator for Pride, Inc. in Washington, D.C.; as Head o Communications Skills Instruction for the School of Contemporary Studies, Brooklyn College, City University of NeIl York; visiting lecturer at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont and Seaton Hall University in New Jersey; Academic Advisor Head at Alabama State University; and. Capital Campaign Coordinator for Tuskegee University.
When Dr. Patton returned to Montgomery, Alabama in 1977, she immediately placed her energies in ou continuing freedom struggle to build coalitions for justice and equality. She penned a weekly column for thl MONTGOMERY- TUSKEGEE TIMES and served as educational TV host for the state-wide community program "Harambe."
Dr. Patton now serves as Program/Field Director for the Southem Rainbow Education Project, a free-standing multi-racial/cultural, multi-issue coalition dedicated to the principle that grassroots people can act on their on OWl collective behalf as their own advocates and leaders.
Dr. Patton is the recipient of many awards and citations and is designated a special scholar by the Institute of Higher Education Research and Services (University of Alabama) and is listed with biography in the Intemational Who' Who of Intellectuals. She was chosen as an Aspen Institute Fellow in 1991.
When asked about her accomplishments, particularly in Alabama where she was told that she would never ear a living, Dr. Patton replies, "My accomplishments are really blessings that can only be granted by our Lord. I firmly believe that no official can have power over a God-fearing person. Dr. King taught us that. With God, all things ar possible. I have never doubted Him ---in my travels through this weary world and in sickness when death has knocked at my door ---I have trusted Him, and have promised Him that I will do His will -on earth as it us in Heaven." I am grateful that He has spared me thus far, and I thank Him everyday for the many blessings He continues to bestow upo me as an instrument for freedom and justice.
Dr. Gwen Patton is a 4th generation member of the Hutinson Missionary Baptist Church in Montgomery, Christian friend to our community, a friend to the downtrodden and the oppressed, and personal friend to Jesus Christ.
Copyright © 2000-2007
Last Modified: May 10, 2007.
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